CINCINNATI — During a football game on Saturday night at Nippert Stadium, fans of the Cincinnati Bearcats engaged in an offensive chant targeting BYU and its sponsoring organization, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The chant, which included a derogatory phrase, was captured on video and shared widely on social media.
In response to the escalating situation, the public address announcer at the stadium urged fans to refrain from any “derogatory” chants. Such incidents have become increasingly prevalent in recent years at various BYU sporting events held outside of Utah.
Other universities have faced similar issues; for instance, USC in 2021, Oregon in 2022, and Providence in 2024 have all issued apologies for comparable chants. Additionally, Colorado was publicly reprimanded and fined $50,000 by the Big 12 for its fans” involvement in these chants earlier this September.
This season, Arizona“s athletic director also apologized for offensive chants during a game against BYU in Tucson, while Texas Tech“s basketball coach actively discouraged fans from participating in similar behavior prior to a recent matchup with the Cougars.
In the game itself, BYU emerged victorious with a final score of 26-14 against the Bearcats.
