The ‘Cruz Curse’ strikes again as Houston can’t hold huge lead in national championship game

Texas fans are growing increasingly familiar with the 'Cruz Curse' after United States Senator Ted Cruz was in attendance for the Houston Cougars' blown lead in the National Championship game. As the Florida Gators celebrated their third-ever national title, Cougs searched for an explanation.

That explanation was as plain as day, before Houston and Florida even tipped off: The Cruz Cruse.

Throughout the last decade, Cruz has attended various Texas sports events. From Texas A&M baseball games to Houston Astros playoff appearances, and now, the Cougars' shot at their first-ever National Championship win.

Reportedly, Cruz had even gone as far as to bet on the NCAA Tournament matchup with a fellow Senator, according to the Houston Chronicle.

This isn't anything new for Texas fans to wrap their heads around. As of the 2023 MLB postseason, the Astros were 0-5 in home playoff games with Cruz in attendance. Similarly, when the Texas Longhorns faced the Washington Cougars in the 2024 Allstate Sugar Bowl, the Horns suffered a heartbreaking loss with Cruz on the sidelines.

Less than a year later, Cruz attended the Lone Star Showdown on Nov. 30, 2024, as the Longhorns and the Texas A&M Aggies (Cruz's preferred Texas team) lined up for the first game of the rivalry series in over a decade. Of course, in usual fashion, the Aggies lost to their rivals from Austin.

At one point, there was even a live tracker on which Texas teams lost their matchups with the Senator in attendance. This is not to say that sports need to lean into superstitions, but I'm also not going to say to avoid them...

Adding the Texas A&M loss from last fall and the Cougars' loss to Ruan Nanni's total, teams from the Lone Star state are a shocking (and embarrassing) 0-10 with Cruz in the vicinity. Maybe it's time he stays at home to watch games on his TV like the rest of us.