CINCINNATI — Cincinnati fans engaged in an offensive chant of religious slurs directed toward BYU and its sponsoring institution, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Saturday night at Nippert Stadium during the Bearcats’ football game against BYU.
The chant, which was recorded on video and posted various times to social media, was “(expletive) the Mormons.”
At one point in the contest, Cincinnati’s public address announcer encouraged fans to stop any “derogatory” chants.
The chants have become somewhat common in recent years during various BYU athletic events outside of Utah. USC (2021), Oregon (2022) and Providence (2024) have all issued apologies for such chants.
Additionally, Colorado was publicly reprimanded and fined $50,000 by the Big 12 for Buffaloes fans participating in the chants this past September.
Arizona’s athletic director apologized for chants during the Wildcats’ matchup with the Cougars earlier this year in Tucson, and Texas Tech’s basketball coach urged fans not to engage in the chants prior to the Red Raiders’ hosting BYU earlier this month.
BYU defeated Cincinnati 26-14 in Saturday’s contest.