Brett Yormark, Big 12 have ‘zero tolerance’ for anti-LDS chants targeting BYU
Mar 10, 2026, 2:35 PM | Updated: Mar 11, 2026, 1:11 am
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark does not want to hear any more derogatory chants targeting The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in league venues.
On Tuesday, the fourth-year Commissioner was asked a question during his state-of-the-conference address at the Big 12 Basketball Tournament about whether the league would consider more than $50,000 fines for institutions that participate in chants similar to the ones heard at Colorado, Cincinnati, Arizona, and others.
Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark was asked whether the league would do more than issue fines for derogatory anti-LDS chants at conference venues.
Here was his response.@kslsports pic.twitter.com/udjjB0UaP9
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 10, 2026
Big 12 Commissioner has “zero tolerance” for anti-LDS chants at league venues
Those chants centered around “F— the Mormons” during Big 12 sporting events against BYU football, and in some cases, men’s basketball.
“We have zero tolerance for that. I speak to you both as the Commissioner of the Big 12, but also as someone who has high integrity. I’ve had those conversations, in fact, with my kids, because I think it’s a lot of education that needs to happen with some of the student sections, because that’s where it’s coming from,” said Yormark on Tuesday.
“I told my kids candidly, you’re not coming home if you ever have those words ever come out of your mouth, regardless of what they are, and I take it very seriously, and it’s a very personal thing for me.”
Earlier this winter, during the men’s basketball season, BYU basketball head coach Kevin Young vented in a postgame press conference about derogatory chants he heard in a game against Oklahoma State.
Oklahoma State University apologized and was fined $50,000 by the conference.
“Roll up our sleeves and dig in”
Commissioner Yormark continued by discussing his personal experiences with derogatory words and commentary.
“I’m Jewish, and I grew up in a very diverse background. I felt hate as a young man, and I didn’t like it. I’m here based on those experiences and in my position to try to bring about change and change behavior. And that’s what I’m trying to do, along with my colleagues, the presidents, and the ADs. We’ve spent quite a bit of time on it, and we’re going to spend more time in our Spring Meetings on how we can be better.
“I’m working very closely with Shane Reese, the President of BYU. We often talk about it because he knows it’s a very personal thing for me. I’m embarrassed by it and not happy about it, but we need to do something about it, and we’ve got to change behavior. I think we are going to roll up our sleeves and dig in at our spring meetings and address it as a group, the presidents and ADs. I’m very confident we’ll get to a better place.”
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 BYUathletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
