The Aporia · Colorado State apologizes to BYU for derogatory chants as 11th-ranked Cougars beat Rams 41-23

Colorado State apologizes to BYU for derogatory chants as 11th-ranked Cougars beat Rams 41-23

Read the original at Toronto Star ↗

Cite

APA MLA Chicago

Graham, P. (2026, September 20). Colorado State apologizes to BYU for derogatory chants as 11th-ranked Cougars beat Rams 41-23. Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/colorado-state-apologizes-to-byu-for-derogatory-chants-as-11th-ranked-cougars-beat-rams-41-23/article_ce1536ba-6c4d-5d99-a9b8-1e85938820d1.html

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

Quick Summary

Colorado State University apologized to Brigham Young University after derogatory chants targeting members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were heard from the stands during BYU’s 41-23 victory over Colorado State. The apology came late in the fourth quarter and emphasized that such behavior is against CSU's community values. Despite the offensive chants, BYU running back LJ Martin focused on his performance, rushing for 176 yards and three touchdowns. This incident follows similar issues at other universities where fans directed religious slurs towards BYU players and staff.

Written by AI on 2026-09-20, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Colorado State University apologized to BYU (Brigham Young University) after derogatory chants targeting The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were heard from fans in the stands during a football game against BYU in Fort Collins, Colorado. The apology came late in the fourth quarter as the 11th-ranked Cougars defeated the Rams with a score of 41-23. The school stated that such behavior mocking anyone’s faith has no place at CSU and contradicts their community values. Despite some fan misconduct, Kalani Sitake, BYU's coach, emphasized that it was a minority of fans, noting many supporters in Fort Collins were respectful. He added that his players focused on the game regardless of external distractions.

Written for “College Football Apology” on 2026-11-03, grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.

Compared with similar articles

This article reads leans left and hedges 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

Colorado State apologizes to BYU for fans’ derogatory chants Same event

New York Post

⚖️ Leans left Hedges 0 of 22 claims Outlet record 66/100

LJ Martin erupts for 176 yards, 3 TDs as No. 11 BYU storms past Colorado State 41-23 Different event

Toronto Star

Hedges 0 of 18 claims Outlet record 64/100

“While both articles describe BYU's football game against Colorado State, Article A focuses on LJ Martin's performance and the game summary, while Article B discusses derogatory chants directed at BYU from the stands and CSU's subsequent apology.”

How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted

sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

0 of 22 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

Leans left

of the writing, not the subject · beta estimate

Publisher signals

64/100

Toronto Star's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

Outlets on this story

Sports

Same framing elsewhere

articles that frame the event the way this one does

Analyzed 2026-09-20 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability

Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

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Who wrote this

Pat Graham

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Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 27 articles by Pat Graham →

Topics

BYU Colorado State Cougars FORT COLLINS The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Subjects

BYU ORG · 6× Colorado GPE · 2× Colorado State ORG · 2× Cougars ORG · 2× FORT COLLINS GPE · 2× Mormons NORP · 2× The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ORG · 2× CSU ORG · 1× Colo. GPE · 1× Mormon NORP · 1×

Narrative

Cincinnati athletic director John Cunningham also issued an apology in November to BYU and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for derogatory chants by fans during the Bearcats’ game against the Cougars.

framing: assertive · carried by 2 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-20

2026-09-20 · Toronto Star

Colorado State apologizes to BYU for derogatory chants as 11th-ranked Cougars beat Rams 41-23 · assertive framing

2026-09-20 · New York Post

Colorado State apologizes to BYU for fans’ derogatory chants · assertive framing

Claims (22 extracted, 0 hedged)

Colorado State issued an apology to BYU on Saturday night for derogatory chants aimed at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints coming from the stands. asserted

State → issue → stands

The school said that “mocking anyone’s faith has no place at CSU.” asserted

mocking → say → CSU

BYU is the flagship school for what’s widely known as the Mormon church. asserted

what → know → church

The chants were predominantly pregame and coming from the student section. asserted

chants → come → section

“It runs counter to our community’s values and to who we are. asserted

we → run → values

BYU’s players, coaches and fans deserved better,” Colorado State said in a statement issued late in the fourth quarter as the 11th-ranked Cougars beat the Rams 41-23. asserted

Cougars → deserve → Rams

“We are addressing this with our students.” asserted

We → address → students

BYU coach Kalani Sitake was asked if the chants provided more fuel for his players as they took the field following a weather delay. asserted

they → ask → delay

“I think the chants, mostly a minority of people and fans. asserted

I → think → people

There’s some amazing fans here in Fort Collins, so not too worried about that,” Sitake said. asserted

Sitake → ’ → that

“The guys are motivated to play football, no matter what. asserted

guys → motivate → football

We’re not going to judge an entire fan base on a few — a few of the ones that made their chants.” asserted

that → go → chants

Running back LJ Martin said he was focused on the game. asserted

he → say → game

He added that any sort of noise raining down from the crowd doesn’t add extra motivation. asserted

sort → add → motivation

“We’re self-motivated,” said Martin, who rushed for 176 yards and three touchdowns. asserted

who → ’re → yards

“Of course, you just hear them talking. asserted

them → hear → ?

It makes it a lot funner when you do go out there and perform the way you do. asserted

you → make → ?

It makes it a lot funner just to see them go from real loud just to real quiet.” asserted

them → make → quiet

Colorado was issued a $50,000 fine last September for expletives and religious slurs directed at Mormons when BYU beat Colorado at Folsom Field. asserted

BYU → issue → Field

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark condemned the chants at the time in a statement announcing the penalty. asserted

Yormark → condemn → penalty

Cunningham → issue → Cougars

Videos shared on social media showed fans repeatedly chanting “(expletive) the Mormons.” asserted

fans → share → Mormons