FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Colorado State University issued an apology Saturday night after fans in the stands directed derogatory chants aimed at members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the Rams’ 41-23 loss to No. 11 Brigham Young University.
University condemns chants, promises follow-up
The statement, released late in the fourth quarter as BYU sealed the victory, said the conduct “runs counter to our community’s values and to who we are.” CSU added it would address the incident with students.
“Mocking anyone’s faith has no place at CSU. BYU’s players, coaches and fans deserved better,” the school said.
The apology came amid a dominant performance by BYU running back LJ Martin, who rushed for 176 yards and three touchdowns — providing the offensive spark that put the Cougars in front early and carried them to a 3-0 start.
Game context and immediate impact
BYU built a large halftime advantage, leading 31-7, and extended that margin early in the second half before Colorado State rallied late to make the final score more respectable. The Cougars’ early scoring surge limited home-field momentum and intensified the crowd atmosphere, which officials later said included the offensive chants.
Colorado State’s statement did not specify how many attendees were involved, whether any individuals would face disciplinary measures, or whether stadium security intervened during the game. The only details released publicly were the university’s condemnation of the behavior and the promise to address it with students.
History of similar incidents in Colorado
Last season, the University of Colorado received a fine of $50,000 after a broadcast included expletives and religious slurs directed at Mormons during a BYU-CU game at Folsom Field. Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark publicly condemned the chants at the time when announcing the penalty. The CSU apology referenced that such conduct is inconsistent with the university’s values.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Final score | BYU 41, Colorado State 23 |
| LJ Martin | 176 rushing yards, 3 TDs |
| CSU response | Apology issued; students will be addressed |
Community reaction and ramifications
The apology acknowledges the sensitivity of religious-targeted taunts at a public university event and the potential reputational harm to Colorado State. While the school framed the remarks as contrary to its values, it stopped short of announcing immediate sanctions or naming individuals responsible.
Public universities typically employ student conduct codes and potential disciplinary measures for behavior that violates campus policies. CSU’s mention that it is “addressing this with our students” indicates the university will likely rely on internal processes to determine consequence, education or remedial steps, though the school offered no timeline or further detail in its statement.
Why the response matters
Sporting events are often positioned as community gatherings, and universities that host them have a vested interest in keeping alumni, visiting fans and prospective students feeling welcome and safe. The latest apology follows a well-documented pattern in the region of athletic events where chants or remarks target religious identity. That history has prompted outside scrutiny and, in at least one instance, a monetary penalty.
- CSU’s official stance: Mocking faith is unacceptable; school will address the issue with students.
- Immediate context: Incident occurred during BYU’s 41-23 road win in Fort Collins.
- Precedent: Last season CU was fined $50,000 after similar chants during a BYU game.
At this stage, Colorado State has limited its public remarks to an apology and pledge of internal follow-up. The university did not indicate whether the incident would trigger investigations by conference officials, the athletic department, or external authorities, nor did it say if any individuals would be identified or disciplined.
The episode is likely to renew conversations about fan behavior at college sporting events and the responsibility of athletic departments and campus administrators to prevent harassment on the basis of religion or other protected characteristics.
BYU, the private university affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and currently ranked No. 11, left Fort Collins with a convincing road victory. Colorado State’s leadership now faces decisions about how to follow through on its promise to address the conduct and how to reassure visiting communities that faith-based taunts will not be tolerated at future events.
Further developments — including any disciplinary steps taken by CSU or additional statements from BYU or conference officials — were not available at the time of publication.
