March Madness always delivers surprises, but fans at the BYU vs. Alabama game got an extra dose of unexpected nostalgia when Jon Heder, the actor behind Napoleon Dynamite, made a courtside appearance.
And, in true Napoleon style, he wasn’t just there to watch the game—he came bearing tater tots.
A Courtside Cameo with a Side of Tots
Heder, 47, turned up at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Thursday night to cheer on BYU’s star player Richie Saunders.
The actor, a proud BYU alumnus, didn’t just bring his school spirit—he also arrived with a tray of Ore-Ida tater tots, a nod to the beloved 2004 cult classic that made him a household name.
It wasn’t just a random snack choice. Ore-Ida, the frozen food brand famous for its tater tots, recently partnered with Saunders, who happens to be the great-grandson of the company’s founder. Talk about a perfect marketing moment!
A Tough Night for BYU on the Court
Despite the excitement of Heder’s presence, BYU had a tough night against Alabama in the Sweet Sixteen round.
The Cougars struggled to keep up as Alabama’s Mark Sears put on a shooting clinic, sinking 10 of 16 three-pointers and scoring an impressive 34 points.
Alabama ultimately secured a dominant 113-88 victory, shattering NCAA Tournament records with 25 three-pointers made on 51 attempts.
Even with the loss, Heder kept the energy up, handing out fist-bumps and showing off a plate full of tater tots—a perfect tribute to the iconic scene from Napoleon Dynamite where Napoleon stuffs tots in his pocket, only to have them crushed by a class bully.
Social Media Goes Wild for the Tater Tot Cameo
As clips of Heder and his tots spread across social media, fans couldn’t contain their excitement.
One person called it an “unbelievable crossover event,” while another wrote, “More evidence that God is real.”
Others praised Ore-Ida’s marketing move, with one user commenting, “That’s marketing money well-spent!”
The moment was especially fitting as Napoleon Dynamite recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.
Last year, Heder even teamed up with Ore-Ida to promote a hilarious new product: tot-protecting pants, a direct callback to the movie’s iconic lunchroom scene.
BYU Fights Hard But Falls Short
Despite their struggles from beyond the arc—making just 6 of 30 three-point attempts—BYU still had strong performances from its key players.
Saunders led the Cougars with 25 points, while Egor Demin added 15 points and seven assists.
They dominated in the paint, outscoring Alabama 50-16, but their cold shooting from deep proved too much to overcome.
Meanwhile, Alabama is now setting its sights on a second straight Final Four appearance, riding the momentum of their historic three-point shooting night.
The Ultimate Nostalgic Sports Moment
In the end, the game may not have gone BYU’s way, but fans still got a night to remember.
Between the NCAA record-breaking performance by Alabama and the unexpected return of Napoleon Dynamite’s love for tots, it was a March Madness moment no one saw coming.
And let’s be honest—if BYU had somehow won, we’d all be wondering if it was because of the lucky tater tots.