Sooners Catch Fire-Literally and Figuratively-in Win Over Georgia
The Oklahoma Sooners were looking for a spark to keep their season alive, and on Saturday afternoon in Norman, they got one-just not in the way anyone expected.
In a bizarre twist at Lloyd Noble Center, Oklahoma’s home matchup against Georgia was momentarily halted just minutes after tipoff when a popcorn machine in the concourse caught fire. Yes, you read that right.
Flames erupted from the concession stand, triggering the arena’s sprinkler system and sending smoke billowing through the building. Fans, players, and coaches alike were left stunned as the game was paused for about five minutes while the smoke cleared.
“I literally looked up and thought, ‘This is just…’ I mean, add it to the list,” head coach Porter Moser said postgame. “I’ve never seen anything like it.
It was a huge flame from our vantage point. I’m just glad the sprinkler system worked-for everyone’s safety and so we could get back to playing.”
Once the smoke settled-literally-the Sooners got back to business. And this time, it wasn’t just the popcorn machine that was heating up.
Oklahoma went on to torch Georgia 94-78 in what was arguably their most complete performance of the season. The victory marked back-to-back SEC wins for the first time this year, coming on the heels of a nail-biting upset over then-No.
15 Vanderbilt in Nashville. With the win, the Sooners climbed above .500 overall at 13-12 and finally started to gain some traction in the SEC standings after a brutal nine-game conference skid.
It’s been a frustrating season in Norman, but Saturday’s win provided a much-needed moment of joy-and some viral entertainment to boot. As smoke cleared from the concourse, the arena DJ leaned into the chaos, playing Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” followed by Sean Kingston’s “Fire Burning” and Pitbull’s “Fireball.” The crowd ate it up.
Social media, of course, had a field day. Clips of the fire, the music, and the surreal scene made the rounds, with fans and college basketball accounts cracking jokes and posting memes faster than the fire department could’ve responded. Even former Sooner star and NBA All-Star Trae Young chimed in, expressing disbelief at the scene and a hopeful eye toward the new arena that’s been greenlit for the program’s future.
And while Saturday’s win doesn’t erase the struggles that have plagued Oklahoma this season, it does offer a glimmer of what this team is capable of when everything clicks. The Sooners played with urgency, confidence, and-fittingly-a little fire. It’s too late to talk about postseason dreams, but for now, Oklahoma seems to have found something worth building on.
The fire may have been an oddity, but in a season full of tough breaks and cold stretches, it might’ve been just the kind of spark the Sooners needed.