Recent SI Cover Jinx

Recent SI Cover Jinx

Conor McGregor — February 29, 2016 Issue

Deirdre Brennan for Sports Illustrated

Conor McGregor lost to Nate Diaz via submission in the second round at UFC 196 on March 5, 2016.

Will Smith — December 28, 2015 Issue

Michael Grecco for Sports Illustrated

Will Smith's Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama was not enough to sway the Academy. On January 14, 2016, the veteran star wasn't named for Best Actor and Concussion was excluded from the nominations completely.

Daniel Murphy — November 2, 2015 Issue

Jeff Haynes for Sports Illustrated

Daniel Murphy set a major league record with homers in six straight postseason games and was batting .421 with seven home runs and 11 RBI through 9 games headed into the World Series. Murphy proceeded to bat .150 (3-for-20) with zero home runs and zero RBI, making two costly errors in Game 4, as the Mets lost to the Royals in five games.

Serena Williams — July 9, 2015 Issue

Bob Martin for Sports Illustrated

Serena Williams had won four consecutive Grand Slams and was the three-time defending US Open champion, but she failed to complete the calendar Grand Slam after losing to unranked Roberta Vinci in the US Open semifinals on Sept. 11, 2015.

Kentucky (Karl-Anthony Towns) — April 6, 2015 Issue

David Richard/AP

The undefeated Kentucky Wildcats lost in the Final Four to Wisconsin, 71-64, on April 4, 2015.

Cleveland Indians (Corey Kluber and Michael Brantley) — March 30, 2015 Issue

Robert Beck for Sports Illustrated

The Cleveland Indians, just like in 1987, were pegged to win the World Series. The Tribe finished 81-80 in 2015, missing the playoffs.

Oregon (Byron Marshall) — January 12, 2015 Issue

Kelvin Kuo/USA TODAY Sports

The Oregon Ducks were predicted to win the National Championship, 45-41, but lost 42-20 to the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Jonas Gray — November 24, 2014 Issue

David E. Klutho for Sports Illustrated

The Friday after a 201-yard, four-touchdown performance on 37 carries, New England Patriots running back Jonas Gray was late for practice, sent home, and told he will not start. The next game, he did not have a single carry, with head coach Bill Belichick focusing on newly-signed LeGarrette Blount. Gray received just 24 carries over the team's final seven games, including the postseason.

Alex Poythress — November 10, 2014 Issue

Andrew Hancock for Sports Illustrated

Poythress was one of five different players on a regional cover for the college basketball season preview. On Dec. 11, 2014, Poythress suffered a torn ACL during a team practice while on an uncontested breakaway layup, ending his season after 10 games.

Ole Miss and Mississippi State — October 13 and 20, 2014 Issues

SI Premedia; Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Ole Miss started 7-0, but fell to 9-4, capped off by a 42-3 defeat to TCU in the Peach Bowl. Meanwhile, after starting off 9-0 and being the No. 1 team for five weeks, Mississippi State dropped to 10-3 losing three of their last four, including two straight losses to arch-rival Ole Miss, 31-17, and Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl, 49-34.

Mo'ne Davis — August 25, 2014 Issue

Al Tielemans for Sports Illustrated

Mo'ne Davis, dominating for Pennsylvania in the 2014 Little League World Series, was the first Little League player to appear on the cover of SI. Her first game afterwards, she pitched 2.1 innings and gave up 3 runs on 6 hits, taking an 8-1 loss to Nevada. Pennsylvania would be eliminated in their next game by Illinois.

Braxton Miller — August 18, 2014 Issue

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller was featured on one of the five regional college football preview covers. Days later, he re-injured his surgically repaired right shoulder, resulting in him missing the entire 2014 season.

George Springer — June 30, 2014 Issue

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

George Springer was placed on the 15-day disabled list on July 23, 2014 and would miss the rest of the season.

New York Rangers (Ryan McDonagh) — June 2, 2014 Issue

Kathy Willens/AP

After they went on to win the Eastern Conference Finals in six games, the New York Rangers faced the Los Angeles Kings in the 2014 Stanley Cup Final only to lose in five games.