Colorado State apologizes after fans direct anti-Mormon chants at BYU
13 sourcesUpdated Sep 20, 2026
Colorado State University apologized on Sept. 19, 2026, after fans at Canvas Stadium directed a profanity-laced anti-Mormon chant at BYU, mostly pregame from the student section. CSU's statement, issued late in the fourth quarter of a 41-23 loss to No. 11 BYU, apologized to BYU, its athletes and fans, and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints. The university said mocking anyone's faith has no place at CSU, runs counter to its values, that BYU deserved better, and that it was addressing the conduct with students. LJ Martin rushed for 176 yards and three touchdowns as BYU improved to 3-0. Coach Kalani Sitake said the chants came from a minority and he would not judge the whole Fort Collins fan base; Martin said the team is self-motivated. Colorado was fined $50,000 by the Big 12 last season for similar chants, Oklahoma State was fined earlier this year, and Cincinnati's athletic director apologized in November for derogatory chants at a BYU game. Coverage does not dispute the core events.
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Left· 5 sources
“Colorado State apologizes for chants vs BYU: 'Mocking anyone's faith has no place at CSU'”Center· 0 sources
No center coverage yet — a bubble gap.
Right· 7 sources
“College football fans taunt BYU with anti-Mormon chorus”Colorado State did the right thing apologizing but they should have stopped the chant while it was happening.
Losing 41-23 is bad enough without fans making it worse by chanting insults at the other team's faith.