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Oklahoma State’s win over BYU was overshadowed by allegations of derogatory fan chants. Wednesday’s BYU-Oklahoma State game marked the fourth known case in a year where fans were accused of using offensive chants during a college basketball game.
The Big 12 Conference later said it had opened an investigation into the matter. “All parties have been informed,” the statement said. “The Conference has zero tolerance for behavior of this nature and will address the matter in accordance with the Big 12 sportsmanship policies,”
After the game, Cougars men’s basketball coach Kevin Young said he heard the Oklahoma State student section chanting “F The Mormons.”
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BYU Cougars head coach Kevin Young reacts during the first half against the Utah Utes at the Marriott Center on January 24, 2026 in Provo, Utah. (Aaron Baker/Imagn Images)
Young also said his children will once again have questions about what happened in Stillwater.
“This is a big win for Oklahoma State University. Their fans should be proud,” he said. “It would be great if classes were warranted there as well. I have four young children at home. I’m Mormon. When I go home, they’ll ask me about it, the same way they asked me about it last year in Arizona,” the Cougars’ second-year coach said.
BYU Cougars basketball coach Kevin Young watches a play during the first half of their game against the Utah Utes at the Jon M Huntsman Center on January 10, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
Young concluded that the level of “hate in the world” was evident in fans directing derogatory language toward an opposing team. “There is just too much hate in the world to say things like that. We have enough problems in our world without caring about people’s religion and beliefs and whether they are fashionable or not.”
BYU is the flagship school of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon Church. PK Press Club Digital has reached out to the BYU and Oklahoma State athletic departments for comment.
Oklahoma State President Jim Hess sent the following statement to PK Press Club Digital:
“I am aware of concerns raised by the BYU coaching staff regarding the conduct of some individuals in attendance at Wednesday’s basketball game. Any behavior that targets or demeans others has no place at Oklahoma State University and does not reflect who we are as Cowboys. The Cowboys Code calls on us to treat others with respect and dignity, and we are reviewing what occurred and will appropriately address any violations of our standards of conduct.
“Oklahoma State University values the relationship we have with BYU and deeply respects their community and faith. I have reached out directly to BYU leadership to express our commitment to upholding the standards we expect of our community. We will continue to work with our students and fans to ensure the atmosphere at our events reflects the values of the Cowboy family.”
BYU officials did not immediately respond.
As the final seconds ticked down, Oklahoma State fans rushed the field to celebrate the upset of No. 16 BYU.
Fans rush onto the court after a BIG 12 men’s college basketball game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the BYU Cougars at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Oklahoma on February 4, 2026. (BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN NETWORK / USA TODAY via Imagn Images)
Last February, Arizona apologized after the school said some fans participated in “unacceptable chanting” following the basketball team’s 96-95 loss to BYU in Tucson. According to an online video, fans could be heard shouting a profanity-laced phrase directed at Mormons as the teams left the field.
In September, Colorado apologized and was fined $50,000 by the Big 12 after football fans hurled expletives and religious slurs at Mormons during a 24-21 loss to the Cougars in Boulder. In November, Cincinnati apologized for anti-Mormon chants by football fans during a 26-14 loss to BYU in Ohio.
Young said four or five players on BYU’s roster are Mormon.
“I understand what we stand for. Even for a guy like AJ, this stuff is uncalled for. Like I said, man, I try to talk to our guys about being examples in the world, why we can use basketball to really bring people together and not divide them. It’s something we talk about a lot. It’s just disappointing.
“I hope someone prints this, I hope it’s bolded on someone’s post and I’ll try that maybe together as a society we can just help the world move forward and not divide us by hate and things that really don’t make any sense.”
