The 2013 American Athletic Conference football season was the 23rd NCAA Division I FBS football season of the American Athletic Conference (The American). The season was the first after the breakup of the former Big East Conference, which lasted in its original form from its creation in 1979 until July 2013. The charter of the former Big East was retained by The American, henceforth the legal status as the 23rd season overall.
UCF as The American's Champion earned the league's last automatic berth for a BCS Bowl Game. Following the 2013 college football season, the BCS (1998–2013) will be replaced by a four team playoff system. Starting in 2014, The American will lose its Automatic Qualifier (AQ) status, and fall into the "Group of Five" with Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, Mountain West Conference, and the Sun Belt Conference.
In its first year, the conference consisted of 10 football members: Cincinnati, Connecticut, Houston, Louisville, Memphis, Rutgers, SMU, South Florida, Temple, and UCF. Conference members began regular-season play on August 29 when UCF hosted Akron. Conference play started on September 7 when Temple hosted Houston. The regular season concluded on December 7. The following match-ups were not seen in conference play in 2013: Cincinnati–UCF, Connecticut–Houston, Louisville–SMU, Memphis–Rutgers, and South Florida–Temple. Louisville–SMU and Memphis–Rutgers will not be seen in any year in The American play as Louisville and Rutgers are leaving for the ACC and Big Ten, respectively, in 2014.
Previous season On February 28, 2013, ESPN reported that the conference's seven schools that did not play FBS football, which had announced plans to leave the conference as a bloc no later than July 2015, had reached an agreement to leave in July 2013, and would keep the "Big East" name when they formed a new conference at that time. As a result, the football schools retained the original Big East charter and would operate under a new name in the 2013 football season. The new conference name was officially announced on April 3, 2013.
Cincinnati, Louisville, Rutgers, and Syracuse were co-champions with identical 5–2 records. Louisville received the Big East BCS bid. As the Big East BCS representative, the Cardinals defeated Florida 33–23 in the 2013 Allstate Sugar Bowl. In other bowl games, Cincinnati defeated Duke 48–34 in the Belk Bowl 48–34 with interim coach Steve Stripling. Rutgers lost to Virginia Tech 13–10 in the Russell Athletic Bowl, while Syracuse in their final game as a Big East member defeated former Big East member West Virginia 38–14 in the Pinstripe Bowl. In Pittsburgh's final game as a Big East member, the Panthers lost to Ole Miss 38–17 in the BBVA Compass Bowl.
Preseason
Coaching changes Three teams have new head coaches for the 2013 season. Tommy Tuberville replaces Butch Jones at Cincinnati, Willie Taggart replaces Skip Holtz at South Florida and Matt Rhule has taken over for Steve Addazio at Temple.
Preseason Poll The 2013 American Athletic Conference Preseason Poll was announced at the 2013 American Athletic Conference Media Day in Newport, Rhode Island on July 30, 2013.
Louisville (28) Cincinnati (2) Rutgers UCF South Florida Houston UConn SMU Temple Memphis
(first place votes)
Rankings + Legend Increase in ranking Decrease in ranking Not ranked previous week RV Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll
Pre Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 Wk11 Wk12 Wk13 Wk14 Wk15 Wk16 Final Cincinnati AP RV RV NR RV RV RV RV NRC RV RV NR RV NR RV RV 25 23 RV RV Harris Not released RV RV RV RV BCSNot released Connecticut AP C Harris Not released BCSNot released Houston AP RV NR RV RV NRC RV RV RV RV NR Harris Not released RV RV RV RV RV NR BCSNot released Louisville AP 9 8 7 7 7 7 8 8 18 20 20 19 21 21 19 18 15C 9 8 7 6 7 8 8 6 16 17 16 13 15 16 16 16 15 Harris Not released 6 16 16 16 14 16 18 17 16 BCSNot released 20 19 20 20 21 20 19 18 Memphis AP C Harris Not released BCSNot released Rutgers AP RV RV RV RV NRC RV NR RV RV RV RV RV NR RV NR Harris Not released BCSNot released SMU AP C Harris Not released BCSNot released South Florida AP C Harris Not released BCSNot released Temple AP C Harris Not released BCSNot released UCF AP RV RV RV RV RV 21 19 19 15 17 17 15 15 10C RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV 25 22 21 19 20 19 17 15 12 Harris Not released RV 25 22 21 20 19 20 18 15 BCSNot released 23 23 21 17 18 19 16 15
Schedule Index to colors and formattingAmerican member wonAmerican member lostAmerican teams in bold
Week 1
Bye Week: Memphis
Week 2
Bye Week: Connecticut
Week 3
Bye Week: Houston, SMU
Week 4
Bye Week: Temple, South Florida, UCF
Week 5
Bye Week: Cincinnati, Louisville, Memphis, Rutgers
Week 6
Bye Week: Connecticut, Houston
Week 7
Bye Week: SMU, UCF
Week 8
Bye Week: Rutgers, South Florida
Week 9
Bye Week: Cincinnati, Memphis
Week 10
Bye Week: Connecticut, Louisville, SMU, UCF
Week 11
Bye Week: Rutgers, South Florida
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Bye Week: Cincinnati, Louisville
Week 15
Bye Week: Temple, Houston
Reference:The American 2013 Football Schedule
Bowl games
Note: The American Athletic Conference did not have enough bowl eligible teams to send a representative to the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl.
Bowl Eligibility
Bowl Eligible Louisville (11-1): Became bowl eligible on October 10 after defeating Rutgers. Houston (8-4): Became bowl eligible on October 26 after defeating Rutgers. UCF (11-1): Became bowl eligible on October 26 after defeating Connecticut. Cincinnati (9-3): Became bowl eligible on October 30 after defeating Memphis. Rutgers (6-6): Became bowl eligible on December 7 after defeating South Florida.
Bowl Ineligible Connecticut (3-9): Lost the ability to become bowl eligible on October 26 after losing to UCF. Temple (2-10): Lost the ability to become bowl eligible on October 26 after losing to SMU. South Florida (2-10): Lost the ability to become bowl eligible on November 16 after losing to Memphis. Memphis (3-9): Lost the ability to become bowl eligible on November 23 after losing to Louisville. SMU (5-7): Lost the ability to become bowl eligible on December 7 after losing to UCF.
Records against other conferences
American vs. BCS conferences Legend American Win American Loss
Date Visitor Home Winning team OpponentConference August 30 Texas Tech SMU Texas Tech Big 12 August 31 Purdue Cincinnati Cincinnati Big Ten September 7 Cincinnati Illinois Illinois Big Ten September 7 Duke Memphis Duke ACC September 7 South Florida Michigan State Michigan State Big Ten September 14 Louisville Kentucky Louisville SEC September 14 Maryland Connecticut Maryland ACC September 14 UCF Penn State UCF Big Ten September 21 Michigan Connecticut Michigan Big Ten September 21 Arkansas Rutgers Rutgers SEC September 21 SMU Texas A&M Texas A&M SEC September 28 SMU TCU TCU Big 12 September 28 Miami South Florida Miami ACC September 28 South Carolina UCF South Carolina SEC
American vs. FBS conferences ConferenceRecordThrough week 5.ACC1-3Big 121-2Big Ten2-3Independents1-3Pac-120-0SEC2-3Total7-14
Players of the week Following each week of games, American Athletic Conference officials select the players of the week from the conference's teams. Week Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Position Team Player Position Team Player Position TeamAug 31Teddy BridgewaterQBLouisvilleTerrance PlummerLBUCFRichie LeonePHoustonSept 7Deontay GreenberryWRHoustonCalvin PryorSLouisvilleJaBryce TaylorWRSMUSept 14Blake BortlesQBUCFLorenzo MauldinDELouisvilleQuron PrattWRRutgersSept 21Gary NovaQBRutgersMartin IfediDEMemphisJanarion GrantWRRutgersSept 28John O'KornQBHoustonWilliam JacksonCBHoustonBrandon WilsonDBHoustonOct 5Garrett GilbertQBSMUTerrance PlummerLBUCFMarvin KlossKUSFOct 12Brendon KayQBCincinnatiCalvin PryorSLouisvilleJake ElliottKMemphisOct 19Storm JohnsonRBUCFDerrick MatthewsLBHoustonPaul LaytonPTempleOct 26Garrett GilbertQBSMUTrevon StewartSHoustonShawn MoffittKUCFNov 2Gary NovaQBRutgersZach EdwardsSCincinnatiMarvin KlossKUSFNov 9Garrett GilbertQBSMUBrandon AlexanderSUCFCharles GainesCBLouisvilleNov 16J. J. WortonWRUCFBobby McCainCBMemphisJake ElliottKMemphisNov 23Brandon KayQBCincinnatiYawin SmallwoodLBConnecticutRichie LeonePHoustonNov 30P. J. WalkerQBTempleTaylor MackCBConnecticutRannell HallWRUCF
Position key CenterCCornerbackCBDefensive backDBDefensive endDEDefensive linemanDLDefensive tackleDTGuardGKickoff returnerKROffensive tackleOTOffensive linemanOLLinebackerLBLong snapperLSPunterPPlacekickerPKPunt returnerPRQuarterbackQBRunning backRBSafetySTight endTEWide receiverWR
Awards and honors
Conference awards The following individuals received postseason honors as voted by the American Athletic Conference football coaches
2013 American Athletic Conference Individual Awards Award Recipient(s)Offensive Player of the YearBlake Bortles, UCFDefensive Player of the Year Marcus Smith, LouisvilleSpecial Teams Player of the Year Tom Hornsey, Memphis Demarcus Ayers, HoustonRookie of the Year John O' Korn, HoustonCoach of the Year George O' Leary, UCF 2013 All-American Athletic Conference Football Teams First Team Second Team Offense Defense Offense DefenseWR - Deontay Greenberry, Houston WR - DeVante Parker, Louisville OT - Eric Lefeld, ^ Cincinnati OT - Jamon Brown, Louisville OG - Jordan McCray, UCF C - Jake Smith, Louisville TE - Blake Annen, Cincinnati TE - Tyler Kroft, Rutgers QB - Blake Bortles, UCF RB - Storm Johnson, ^UCF RB - Paul James, Rutgers K - Jake Elliott, Memphis RS - Ralph David Abernathy IV, Cincinnati RS - Demarcus Ayers, HoustonDL - Jordan Stepp, Cincinnati DL - Marcus Smith II, Louisville DL - Martin Ifedi, Memphis DL - Aaron Lynch, USF LB - Terrance Plummer, UCF LB - Yawin Smallwood, UConn LB - Tyler Matakevich, Temple CB - Jacoby Glenn, UCF CB - Charles Gaines, Louisville S - Calvin Pryor, Louisville S - Hakeem Smith, Louisville P - Tom Hornsey, MemphisWR - Anthony McClung, Cincinnati WR - J.J. Worton, UCF WR - Jeremy Johnson, SMU OT - Chris Martin, UCF OT - DeAnthony Sims, Houston OG - Sam Longo, Cincinnati OG - John Miller, Louisville C - Betim Bujari, Rutgers QB - Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville TE - Mike McFarland, USF RB - William Stanback, UCF RB - Marcus Shaw, USF K - Shawn Moffitt, UCF RS - Janarion Grant, RutgersDL - Silverberry Mouhon, Cincinnati DL - Shamar Stephen, UConn DL - Lorenzo Mauldin, Louisville DL - Luke Sager, USF LB - Greg Blair, Cincinnati LB - Preston Brown, Louisville LB - DeDe Lattimore, USF CB - Deven Drane, Cincinnati CB - Zach McMillian, Houston CB - Kenneth Acker, SMU S - Clayton Geathers, UCF P - Trevon Stewart, Houston P - Richie Leone, Houston ^ - denotes unanimous selection Additional players added to the All-AAC teams due to ties in the voting
Home game attendance TeamStadiumCapacityGm 1Gm 2Gm 3Gm 4Gm 5Gm 6Gm 7TotalAverage Cincinnati Nippert Stadium 35,000 36,007 30,384 32,220 28,847 127,458 31,864 Connecticut Rentschler Field 40,000 30,689 38,916 42,704 37,861 150,170 37,542 Houston Reliant Stadium, BBVA Compass Stadium 46,846 (Average of Stadiums) 26,205 1 20,103 2 33,115 1 79,243 26,474 Louisville Papa John's Cardinal Stadium 55,000 55,332 53,647 55,168 55,215 270,948 54,190 Memphis Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium 61,000 44,237 36,279 30,274 16,241 127,031 31,758 Rutgers High Point Solutions Stadium 52,454 49,111 47,604 51,969 148,684 49,561 SMU Gerald J. Ford Stadium 32,000 34,790 10,107 19,436 14,639 78,972 23,111 South Florida Raymond James Stadium 65,857 35,470 33,792 47,562 31,077 147,091 36,975 Temple Lincoln Financial Field 68,532 27,328 20,047 21,709 25,533 94,617 23,654 UCF Bright House Networks Stadium 45,323 35,115 47,605 37,924 44,665 41,244 45,952 252,505 42,084
1 @ Reliant Stadium 2 @ BBVA Compass Field
UH vs Rice (34,481) a neutral site game does not count towards attendance
References