Colorado Chancellor, AD Apologize To BYU For Offensive Chants During Football Game
Sep 29, 2025, 9:02 AM | Updated: 1:04 pm
BOULDER, Colo. – BYU football’s first visit to the Colorado Buffaloes’ Folsom Field in 44 years was not a warm welcome from some of the CU fans and students.
Early in Saturday night’s game, which resulted in BYU defeating Colorado 24-21, Colorado’s student section started chanting, “(expletive) BYU!”
As the game progressed, there were also chants of “(expletive) the Mormons!”
Brigham Young University is founded and supported by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
On Sunday night, the CU Boulder official accounts on social media and their website issued a statement from Colorado Chancellor Justin Schwartz and Athletic Director Rick George.
The University of Colorado Boulder strongly condemns the use of expletives and religious slurs by individuals in the stands during the recent football game against BYU. (1/7)
— CU Boulder 🦬 (@CUBoulder) September 29, 2025
University of Colorado issues a statement condemning the religious slurs during football game against BYU
The University of Colorado Boulder strongly condemns the use of expletives and religious slurs by individuals in the stands during the recent football game against BYU. Such behavior is deeply disappointing and does not reflect the values of respect, inclusion, and integrity we expect of our campus community.
Attending sporting events at CU Boulder is a privilege, and with that comes the responsibility to uphold our Fan Code of Conduct. The university and CU Athletics have a strict policy when it comes to abusive behavior, and those found to have engaged in conduct that is not consistent with our values are held accountable.
CU Boulder is committed to fostering an environment where all individuals—students, staff, faculty, alumni, opposing fans and other visitors—feel welcome and safe. Discriminatory language and hostile conduct have no place at our athletic events or anywhere on our campus.
We thank the majority of our fans who continue to support our teams with enthusiasm and respect. Together, we can ensure that CU Boulder events remain a source of pride and unity for our community and that visitors to our campus have a positive experience.
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.
On Monday, BYU athletics issued a statement in response to the University of Colorado Boulder’s comments.
“We denounce all forms of religious discrimination & appreciate @CUBoulder’s example in rooting out these inappropriate actions.
“We invite all to showcase their fandom with enthusiasm & respect.”
We denounce all forms of religious discrimination & appreciate @CUBoulder’s example in rooting out these inappropriate actions.
We invite all to showcase their fandom with enthusiasm & respect. https://t.co/DReNn76p88
— BYU Cougars (@BYUCougars) September 29, 2025
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.
