TCU got its season opener in Ireland ruined by North Carolina and the Horned Frogs could be the latest in a long-line of losers cursed after a loss in the international matchup.
TCU began the season with a resounding thud after falling flat in its opener with North Carolina across the pond in Dublin.
Sonny Dykes appeared to have his squad ready for another solid showing and roared out in the first quarter with quick 10 points on the scoreboard, thanks to a particularly potent rushing attack headed by Alamo Bowl-hero Jeremy Payne.
However, the Horned Frogs ran out of gas nearly just as fast, which was due in part to some strong defensive adjustments from Bill Belichick. And they never tallied another point in a disappointing 15-10 defeat.
Although the upset at the hands of the Tar Heels was brutal enough for the Horned Frogs, the drop in their international debut could signal a tumultuous year on the horizon in Fort Worth.
The matchup in Dublin, more professionally known as the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, was not an exclusive experience for TCU or UNC, as several programs have taken part in the game since it became an annual tradition in 2022.
In that stint, there has been a parallel between those programs that are on losing end of the affair and the quality of season they go onto have.
All of the past four losers of the game have gone onto have .500 records or worse at the season's conclusion, and four of those missed a bowl game entirely.
Kansas State was the lone loser to avoid a complete collapse and notched a 6-6 record in before opting out of a bowl game last year.
Factor in Boston College back in 2016 following the first official installment of the entitled game and there is yet another example of a season going off the rails in the aftermath of an Ireland loss.
The Eagles finished that year at a mediocre 6-6 before earning a win in the Quick Lane Bowl.
Despite this apparent curse on the losers, one victor had a notable fall from grace in the wake of their triumph. Northwestern took down Nebraska 31-28 back in the return of the showdown post-COVID-19 pandemic.
The Wildcats never won another game that season and limped to an abysmal 1-11 record.
For Dykes and company, there are many apparent issues to tune up ahead of the home opener against Grambling State and it appears that some off-the-field hexes could hinder the Horned Frogs, as well.
TCU will be fighting to not only get things back on track in that next outing, but also be the first to break a curse that has tripped up every other team that has been in the same position.
