The infamous Madden cover curse might have found its way into college football. All three players featured on the standard edition cover of EA Sports College Football 27 have suffered significant injuries this season, with Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney becoming the latest casualty just days before the top-ranked Hurricanes face Notre Dame.
When EA Sports unveiled the cover in June, Toney joined Oregon quarterback Dante Moore and Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy as the faces of the popular video game franchise. All three were coming off outstanding 2025 seasons and entered this fall with high expectations, but their 2026 campaigns have taken unfortunate turns.
Kewan Lacy: Dislocated Shoulder
— KG ❄️🏆 (@ShoutoutKG) November 5, 2026
Dante Moore: Concussion
Malachi Toney: High Ankle Sprain
This game is cursed just like Madden. pic.twitter.com/sRJM6PZDO8
Dante Moore's concussion derails Oregon's season
Moore was the first of the three cover athletes to suffer a major injury when he sustained a concussion during Oregon's 41-27 victory over USC on Sept. 26. The quarterback was injured after USC linebacker Desman Stephens II delivered a late hit while Moore was attempting to slide during a scramble. Moore was taken off the field for medical evaluation and transported to a hospital.
Despite avoiding more serious structural injuries, Moore has not returned to game action and Oregon coach Dan Lanning does not anticipate his starting quarterback coming back this season.
The injury interrupted another promising campaign for Moore, who had completed 69.7% of his passes for 926 yards and nine touchdowns without an interception through four games.
Kewan Lacy suffers another shoulder setback at Ole Miss
Lacy became the next cover athlete to suffer a significant injury when he dislocated his left shoulder during Ole Miss' 34-27 loss to Texas on Oct. 24. Lacy had already dealt with problems involving the same shoulder earlier this season and underwent surgery during the offseason.
He subsequently missed the Rebels' victory over Auburn on Oct. 31 and has been ruled out for Saturday's matchup against No. 2 Georgia.
Lacy established himself as one of the nation's top running backs in 2025, earning first-team All-America recognition after rushing for 1,567 yards and 24 touchdowns. However, injuries have limited his production this season, with the junior recording 388 rushing yards and five touchdowns across six appearances.
Malachi Toney becomes the latest victim of the supposed curse
The most recent setback came Wednesday when Toney suffered a high ankle sprain during Miami's practice.
The sophomore underwent a TightRope procedure to stabilize his injured ankle, and projects to be out for four to six weeks. A return for the College Football Playoff is possible, but Toney will miss Saturday's matchup against Notre Dame.
Whether it is an extraordinary coincidence or simply another chapter in one of sports' longest-running superstitions, College Football 27 has certainly given believers in the curse plenty of ammunition.
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