Nebraska Fans Bring March Madness Frenzy to OKC

Huskers fans pack Paycom Center, creating an electric atmosphere for Nebraska's historic NCAA Tournament run.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 3:03pm

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Nebraska basketball fans descended on Oklahoma City in droves, creating a raucous environment at Paycom Center that rivaled even the most intense Thunder playoff games. The Huskers' thrilling 74-72 victory over Vanderbilt to advance to the Sweet 16 sparked a wild celebration, with fans refusing to leave the arena long after the final buzzer. Oklahoma City was overwhelmed by the sheer number of passionate Nebraska supporters, who are now headed to Houston to continue cheering on their team's unexpected March Madness run.

Why it matters

Nebraska basketball has long struggled to make an impact in the NCAA Tournament, making the Huskers' current success all the more meaningful for their devoted fan base. The electric atmosphere generated by Nebraska fans in Oklahoma City showcases the power of March Madness to unite and energize communities, even those hundreds of miles from the teams' home cities.

The details

Nebraska fans packed Paycom Center, creating a deafening environment that Chris Webber described as the best he's seen in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers' thrilling 74-72 victory over Vanderbilt sparked a wild celebration, with players running victory laps and fans refusing to leave the arena long after the final buzzer. Oklahoma City officials were caught off guard by the sheer number of passionate Nebraska supporters, who made the 400-mile trip from Lincoln to cheer on their team's historic Sweet 16 run.

  • On Saturday night, Nebraska beat Vanderbilt 74-72 to advance to the Sweet 16.
  • Ten months ago, the Oklahoma City Thunder won the NBA Finals at Paycom Center.

The players

Pryce Sandfort

A Nebraska sharpshooter who played a key role in the Huskers' victory over Vanderbilt.

Fred Hoiberg

The head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers basketball team.

Mark Byington

The head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“Unbelievable game”

— Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska sharpshooter

“Never seen an atmosphere like this in the first round”

— Chris Webber

“That's one of the best environments, toughest environments that I've ever coached in”

— Mark Byington, Vanderbilt head coach

What’s next

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are headed to the Sweet 16 in Houston, where they expect another large contingent of fans to travel and support the team.

The takeaway

Nebraska basketball's historic NCAA Tournament run has united the Cornhusker faithful, who have traveled in droves to support their team and created an electric atmosphere that has captivated the college basketball world. The passion of Nebraska fans has transformed Oklahoma City into a temporary mecca for March Madness, showcasing the unifying power of the NCAA Tournament.