Cincinnati AD Issues Apology To BYU, Latter-day Saints For Derogatory Chants
Nov 24, 2025, 10:26 AM | Updated: 10:10 pm
CINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati athletic department issued an apology to BYU and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the offensive chants that occurred at Nippert Stadium on Saturday night.
During BYU’s 26-14 win over Cincinnati, University of Cincinnati students began chanting “(expletive) the Mormons!”
Derogatory chants during the BYU football game at Cincinnati
Video of the offensive chants was captured by a BYU fan who was in attendance at Nippert Stadium on Saturday night and shared on Instagram. (WARNING: Video contains strong language.)
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Brigham Young University was founded and supported by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Cincinnati AD apologizes to BYU, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Cincinnati athletics director John Cunningham issued a statement on Monday apologizing to BYU and the Church.
University of Cincinnati AD John Cunningham issues a statement apologizing to BYU and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the derogatory chants on Saturday night. https://t.co/TkmLvJuMky
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 24, 2025
“On behalf of the University of Cincinnati and Bearcats Athletics, I want to sincerely apologize to the BYU community and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“The use of offensive or religiously derogatory language by a group of fans during Saturday’s game was unacceptable and does not reflect our values.
“We remain committed to creating an environment at Nippert Stadium where every visiting team and its supporters are treated with dignity and respect.”
Recent history of BYU being on the receiving end of derogatory chants
It’s the second time this season that BYU has experienced derogatory chants at a Big 12 road venue. Earlier this season, the University of Colorado students had similar chants. The Big 12 Conference issued a $50,000 fine to the University for those derogatory chants.
BYU-Cincinnati was host to a pregame show earlier in the day, “Big Noon Kickoff,” on FOX. There were no derogatory chants in that setting.
However, there were signs in the crowd held up by Cincinnati fans that were derogatory to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
BYU athletics are no strangers to being on the receiving end of expletives and religious slurs at sporting events.
The BYU football program received apologies in 2021 from the University of Southern California and in 2022 from the University of Oregon for similar religious chants shouted by students at those games.
Last season, the BYU men’s basketball program experienced two instances where they received apologies for religious expletives being chanted at them. One occurred at Providence College, and then another occurred in a Big 12 game at the University of Arizona.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
