IRVING, Texas — The Big 12 Conference on Wednesday hit UCF with a $100,000 fine after a group of Knights fans aimed chants at BYU and its sponsoring Latter-day Saints church before last Saturday’s football game in Orlando, which UCF won in overtime.
The league said the money will go to student education programs. In its statement, the conference credited UCF for its pregame steps and for removing some of the people involved during the game, but said discriminatory behavior is not welcome anywhere in the Big 12.
The conference also adopted a tougher policy that takes effect right away. Any first confirmed incident at a game now brings an automatic fine of at least $100,000. A second incident in the same game draws an in-game sanction, such as a 15-yard unsportsmanlike flag in football or a two-shot technical in basketball, plus a possible $500,000 fine.
Anyone ejected for that kind of conduct will be barred from every athletic event for the rest of the school year and may face discipline under university conduct rules.
It is not the first time the league has punished a member over treatment of BYU. Oklahoma State was fined $50,000 in February after chants at a men’s basketball game against the Cougars, and Colorado drew the same amount a year ago for a football game. Colorado State apologized in September after a similar episode.
BYU, now No. 8, hosts Arizona State on Saturday before a Nov. 7 trip to unbeaten No. 6 Utah.
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