BYU coach Kevin Young shared his disappointment over the anti-Mormon chants that could be heard from the Oklahoma State student section during the No. 16 Cougars’ 99-92 upset loss to the Cowboys on Wednesday night.
“There were some ‘F The Mormons’ chants tonight by the student section that I heard,” Young said in his postgame news conference. “It was a great win for Oklahoma State University. I think their fans should be proud, but it would be great if some class was warranted.
“I got four small kids at home, I’m a Mormon, and when I go home, they’re going to ask me about it, the same way they asked me about it last year at Arizona.”
The Big 12 said in a statement Thursday that it “is aware of and is investigating reports of inappropriate chants.”
“The Conference has zero tolerance for behavior of this nature and will address the matter in accordance with Big 12 sportsmanship policies,” the league said.
Oklahoma State president Jim Hess said in a statement that any behavior that targets or demeans others has no place at his school.
“The Cowboy Code calls us to treat others with respect and dignity, and we are reviewing what occurred and will address any violations of our standards of conduct appropriately,” Hess said. “Oklahoma State University values the relationship we have with BYU and deeply respects their community and their faith. I have reached out to BYU leadership directly to express our commitment to upholding the standards we expect from our community. We will continue to work with our students and fans to ensure that the atmosphere at our events reflects the values of the Cowboy family.”
This is at least the fourth time in the past year in which the derogatory chant aimed at Mormons has been used during a BYU men’s basketball or football game, and it has occurred at other games over the years.
Arizona apologized for the chant during last season’s loss to BYU in Tucson, while the same chant was heard from Colorado and Cincinnati fans during 2025 football games. All three schools apologized for the respective incidents, and the Big 12 fined the Buffaloes program $50,000 and issued a public reprimand.
“There’s too much hate in the world to be saying stuff like that,” Young said. “We’ve got enough problems in our world without going after people’s religion and beliefs. … This stuff is unwarranted. … And it’s just disappointing.”
BYU athletic director Brian Santiago wants to break the cycle.
“What we’re trying to do is eliminate the behavior from happening and the apologies that come afterward,” he said in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday.
Santiago, who was not in Stillwater, Oklahoma, for the game, said he received an apology from Oklahoma State athletic director Chad Weiberg and that he was confident administrators across the Big 12 were taking the situation seriously.
“It’s super hurtful and unacceptable for these chants to be going on, these discriminatory chants, against our religion, against any religion,” Santiago said. “There’s a human element of it that we want people to understand how hurtful it is and how unsafe it feels for members of our faith.”
BYU star AJ Dybantsa had 36 points and seven rebounds in the loss, which was led by Anthony Roy’s season-high 30 points. It was the Cougars’ third straight loss.
Oklahoma State fans stormed the court after the victory.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
