You've heard of the "Madden curse." What about the "College Football curse"?
The bad omen that comes with being on the cover of a football video game has seemed to have crossed into the college ranks, as the three stars on the cover of EA Sports College Football 27 − Dante Moore, Malachi Toney and Kewan Lacy − all ended up having regular season-ending injuries.
It's a startling trend considering all three players came into the season as Heisman Trophy contenders on teams with good shots at the national championship.
It started with Moore, as the Oregon quarterback suffered a brutal concussion in Week 4 against Southern California. A hit to the head led to being sent to a hospital, and although he suffered just a concussion, the Ducks were in no
rush for him to come back. Then on Monday, Oct. 26, coach Dan Lanning said he is "not anticipating (Moore) being back this season," cutting his season short to just four games.
Then on Nov. 4, ahead of Miami's game against Notre Dame, USA TODAY Sports' John Brice confirmed Toney is dealing with an lower leg injury that is expected to keep him out for an "extended period of time." It was revealed he would go undergo a medical procedure that would keep him out for the rest of the regular season, with hope he could return for the playoff.
The final injury news came on Tuesday, Nov. 12, as ESPN reported Lacy will miss the rest of the season with a left shoulder injury after missing the past two games, playing in just six games.
College football meets 'Madden curse'
The injuries to Moore, Toney and Lacy join an odd trend in the "Madden curse," an infamous cautionary tale that means being on the cover of the popular NFL games means something bad will happen in the upcoming season.
Starting with San Francisco 49ers running back Garrison Hearst in Madden 99, in which he suffered a devastasting ankle injury, players have had all sorts of bad luck after gracing the cover. Other notable ones include Marshall Faulk with Madden 03 (injury), Michael Vick in Madden 04 (injury), Donovan McNabb and Madden 06 (injury), Peyton Hillis with Madden 12 (down season) and Christian McCaffrey with Madden 25 (injury).
While Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes have proven the curse isn't always successful, there will always be an association with the cover and bad luck.
College football hadn't seen much of a curse. Travis Hunter was featured on College Football 25 and ended up winning the Heisman Trophy, while Ryan Coleman-Williams and Jeremiah Smith were on College Football 26 and made the College Football Playoff.
Perhaps a curse is building now, though.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Madden curse' in college football? Cover stars of CFB video game all injured
