The Big 12 Conference has fined Oklahoma State University $50,000 after derogatory chants toward The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints broke out in Wednesday’s basketball game in Stillwater against BYU.
For BYU fans and players alike, this behavior has become all too familiar, especially in the last two years. This is the latest in a string of incidents where an anti-Mormon chant breaks out in opposing crowds, spanning all the way back to the 2024-25 basketball season and the 2025 football season.
The Big 12 Conference levied a similar fine against Arizona last year, as well as to the University of Colorado this football season when a similar chant broke out in Boulder. There has still been no fine or comment from the Big 12 regarding the chant at the BYU-Cincinnati football game on Nov. 22.
In its official statement released Sunday, the conference stated it “will not tolerate any behavior that targets or demeans others.” The league used similar language when it fined Colorado, saying, “Hateful and discriminatory language has no place in the Big 12 Conference.”
Cougar basketball coach Kevin Young shared disappointment in his postgame press conference over hearing fans yell “(expletive) the Mormons,” a chant his team heard at least twice last season in games at Providence College and at the University of Arizona.
“There’s just too much hate in the world to be saying stuff like that. We’ve got enough hate in the world without going at people’s religions and beliefs,” Young said after the game.
Statement from Oklahoma State University pic.twitter.com/QZcY0Zpxzw
— Oklahoma State Athletics (@OSUAthletics) February 8, 2026
Oklahoma State University, in addressing the allegations and the fine from the conference, released a statement alleging that the chant “followed a disputed call and referenced the Mormon faith in relation to game officials.”
Cowboy fans went to X after the game to defend their name, saying they were not chanting “(expletive) the Mormons” but rather “refs are Mormons.”
In either case, the school stated they will not appeal the fine and that the behavior is not in line with the "Cowboy Code."
“Oklahoma State University values the relationship we have with BYU and deeply respects its community and faith. We will continue to work to ensure that the atmosphere at our events reflects the values of the Cowboy family,” Oklahoma State said in a statement.
The Cougars head to Waco, Texas, this week for a matchup with Baylor before heading to Tucson for the first time since last year’s incident against Arizona.