What's happened
Colorado State University has apologized for chants directed at BYU players and fans during a recent football game, saying mocking anyone’s faith has no place. BYU won 41-23, and CSU says it is addressing the incident with students. The incident echoes prior penalties in college football against other programs.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- The reports converge on a single event: an on-field incident during a CSU vs. BYU game that sparked a university response.
- The tone across outlets is formal and directive, emphasizing accountability and community values.
- The stories highlight a pattern of similar chants at other programs since BYU joined the Big 12, suggesting institutional sensitivity and potential recurring penalties.
- Readers should expect follow-up on how CSU enforces consequences with students and whether BYU pursues further responses.
- This update could influence how fan conduct policies are communicated by other schools in the conference ecosystem.
How we got here
Chants targeting BYU, the flagship school of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have recurred in road games since BYU joined the Big 12 in 2023. CSU issued a statement mid-fourth quarter condemning the behavior, citing community values and a commitment to addressing the issue with students. Previous penalties have included a $50,000 fine for expletives and religious slurs directed at BYU at other campuses.
Our analysis
New York Times Business: quotes CSU apologizing and committing to address with students; New York Post: notes CSU statement and BYU coach comments; AP News: corroborates CSU statement and past penalties. All emphasize that the chants are unacceptable and not representative of broader communities.
Go deeper
- Will CSU specify the disciplinary steps it will take with students involved?
- Will BYU or the Big 12 respond further to these chants in light of past penalties?
- What policies are universities adopting to prevent chants that target religion at future games?
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Colorado State University - Public university in Fort Collins, Colorado
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Brigham Young University (BYU) is a private research university in Provo, Utah, United States. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is the flagship university of the Church Educational System (CES) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). BYU offers a variety of academic programs including those in the liberal arts, engineering, agriculture, management, physical and mathematical sciences, nursing, music, and law. Its undergraduate and graduate programs are organized into 11 colleges and schools at its main Provo campus, with some colleges and divisions defining their own admission standards. The university also administers four satellite campuses in Jerusalem, Salt Lake City, Washington, D.C., and London, while its parent organization, CES, sponsors sister schools in Hawaii and Idaho. The university is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research spending and doctorate production". Almost all BYU students are members of the LDS Church. Students attending BYU agree to follow an honor code, which mandates behavior in line with teachings of the...