2013 American Athletic Conference football season explained

2013 American Athletic Conference
football season
Pixels:150px
Color:
  1. 002654
Color Text:
  1. FFFFFF
League:NCAA Division I FBS
(Football Bowl Subdivision)
Sport:Football
Duration:August 29, 2013
through January 1, 2014
No Of Teams:10
Tv:ESPN
Draft:2014 NFL Draft
Draft Link:2014 NFL Draft
Top Pick:Blake Bortles (UCF)
Picked By:Jacksonville Jaguars, 3rd overall
Season:Regular season
Season Champs:UCF
Season Champ Name:Champion
Seasonslistnames:Football
Prevseason Year:2012 (Big East)
Nextseason Year:2014

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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3] The new conference name was officially announced on April 3, 2013.[4]

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.[5]

  1. Louisville (28)
  2. Cincinnati (2)
  3. Rutgers
  4. UCF
  5. South Florida
  6. Houston
  7. UConn
  8. SMU
  9. Temple
  10. Memphis

Rankings

Legend
 Increase in ranking
 Decrease in ranking
 Not ranked previous week
align=center style="width:20px; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; background:white;"RV Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll

See main article: 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings.

  Pre
Wk
2
Wk
3
Wk
4
Wk
5
Wk
6
Wk
7
Wk
8
Wk
9
Wk
10
Wk
11
Wk
12
Wk
13
Wk
14
Wk
15
Wk
16
Final
CincinnatiAPRVRVNRRVRVRVRVNR
CRVRVNRRVNRRVRV2523RVRV
HarrisNot releasedRVRVRVRV
BCSNot released
ConnecticutAP
C
HarrisNot released
BCSNot released
HoustonAPRVNRRVRVNR
CRVRVRVRVNR
HarrisNot releasedRVRVRVRVRVNR
BCSNot released
LouisvilleAP98777788182020192121191815
C98767886161716131516161615
HarrisNot released61616161416181716
BCSNot released2019202021201918
MemphisAP
C
HarrisNot released
BCSNot released
RutgersAPRVRVRVRVNR
CRVNRRVRVRVRVRVNRRVNR
HarrisNot released
BCSNot released
SMUAP
C
HarrisNot released
BCSNot released
South FloridaAP
C
HarrisNot released
BCSNot released
TempleAP
C
HarrisNot released
BCSNot released
UCFAPRVRVRVRVRV211919151717151510
CRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRV252221192019171512
HarrisNot releasedRV2522212019201815
BCSNot released2323211718191615

Schedule

Index to colors and formatting
American member won
American member lost
American 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 14

Bye Week: Cincinnati, Louisville

Week 15

Bye Week: Temple, Houston

Reference:[6]

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

Bowl Ineligible

Records against other conferences

American vs. BCS conferences

Legend
 American Win
 American Loss
Date Visitor Home Winning Team Opponent
Conference
August 30Texas Tech SMU Texas Tech Big 12
August 31Purdue Cincinnati Cincinnati Big Ten
September 7Cincinnati Illinois Illinois Big Ten
September 7Duke Memphis Duke ACC
September 7South Florida Michigan State Michigan State Big Ten
September 14Louisville Kentucky Louisville SEC
September 14Maryland Connecticut Maryland ACC
September 14UCF Penn State UCF Big Ten
September 21Michigan Connecticut Michigan Big Ten
September 21Arkansas Rutgers Rutgers SEC
September 21SMU Texas A&M Texas A&M SEC
September 28SMU TCU TCU Big 12
September 28Miami South Florida Miami ACC
September 28South Carolina UCF South Carolina SEC

American vs. FBS conferences

ConferenceRecord[7]
ACC1-3
Big 121-2
Big Ten2-3
Independents1-3
Pac-120-0
SEC2-3
Total7-14

Players of the week

Following each week of games, American Athletic Conference officials select the players of the week from the conference's teams.

WeekOffensiveDefensiveSpecial teams
PlayerPositionTeamPlayerPositionTeamPlayerPositionTeam
Aug 31Teddy BridgewaterQBLouisvilleTerrance PlummerLBUCFRichie LeonePHouston
Sept 7Deontay GreenberryWRHoustonCalvin PryorSLouisvilleJaBryce TaylorWRSMU
Sept 14Blake BortlesQBUCFLorenzo MauldinDELouisvilleQuron PrattWRRutgers
Sept 21Gary NovaQBRutgersMartin IfediDEMemphisJanarion GrantWRRutgers
Sept 28John O'KornQBHoustonWilliam JacksonCBHoustonBrandon WilsonDBHouston
Oct 5Garrett GilbertQBSMUTerrance PlummerLBUCFMarvin KlossKUSF
Oct 12Brendon KayQBCincinnatiCalvin PryorSLouisvilleJake ElliottKMemphis
Oct 19Storm JohnsonRBUCFDerrick MatthewsLBHoustonPaul LaytonPTemple
Oct 26Garrett GilbertQBSMUTrevon StewartSHoustonShawn MoffittKUCF
Nov 2Gary NovaQBRutgersZach EdwardsSCincinnatiMarvin KlossKUSF
Nov 9Garrett GilbertQBSMUBrandon AlexanderSUCFCharles GainesCBLouisville
Nov 16J. J. WortonWRUCFBobby McCainCBMemphisJake ElliottKMemphis
Nov 23Brandon KayQBCincinnatiYawin SmallwoodLBConnecticutRichie LeonePHouston
Nov 30P. J. WalkerQBTempleTaylor MackCBConnecticutRannell HallWRUCF

Position key

CenterCCornerbackCBDefensive backDBDefensive endDE
Defensive linemanDLDefensive tackleDTGuardGKickoff returnerKR
Offensive tackleOTOffensive linemanOLLinebackerLBLong snapperLS
PunterPPlacekickerPKPunt returnerPRQuarterbackQB
Running 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
AwardRecipient(s)
Offensive Player of the YearBlake Bortles, UCF
Defensive Player of the YearMarcus Smith, Louisville
Special Teams Player of the YearTom Hornsey, MemphisDemarcus Ayers, Houston
Rookie of the YearJohn O' Korn, Houston
Coach of the YearGeorge O' Leary, UCF
2013 All-American Athletic Conference Football Teams
First TeamSecond Team
OffenseDefenseOffenseDefense
WR - Deontay Greenbury 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 Elliot, Memphis
RS - Ralph David Abernathy IV, Cincinnati
RS - Demarcus Ayers, Houston
DL - Jordan Stepp, Cincinnati
DL - Marcus Smith, 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, Memphis
WR - 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 Stanbeck, UCF
RB - Marcus Shaw, USF
K - Shawn Moffitt, UCF
RS - Janarion Grant, Rutgers
DL - 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
[8]

Home game attendance

TeamStadiumCapacityGm 1Gm 2Gm 3Gm 4Gm 5Gm 6Gm 7TotalAverage
CincinnatiNippert Stadium35,00036,00730,38432,22028,847127,45831,864
ConnecticutRentschler Field40,00030,68938,91642,70437,861150,17037,542
HoustonReliant Stadium, BBVA Compass Stadium46,846 (Average of Stadiums)26,205 120,103 233,115 179,24326,474
LouisvillePapa John's Cardinal Stadium55,00055,33253,64755,16855,215270,94854,190
MemphisLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium61,00044,23736,27930,27416,241127,03131,758
RutgersHigh Point Solutions Stadium52,45449,11147,60451,969148,68449,561
SMUGerald J. Ford Stadium32,00034,79010,10719,43614,63978,97223,111
South FloridaRaymond James Stadium65,85735,47033,79247,56231,077147,09136,975
TempleLincoln Financial Field68,53227,32820,04721,70925,53394,61723,654
UCFBright House Networks Stadium45,32335,11547,60537,92444,66541,24445,952252,50542,084

1 @ Reliant Stadium2 @ BBVA Compass Field

Notes and References

  1. Web site: BIG EAST Announces 2013 Football Schedule . 2013-03-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130617011111/http://www.bigeast.org/tabid/435/article/242501/BIG-EAST-Announces-2013-Football-Schedule.aspx . 2013-06-17 . dead .
  2. Web site: BIG EAST Announces 2013 Football Schedule - Composite Schedule . 2013-03-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130617011111/http://www.bigeast.org/tabid/435/article/242501/BIG-EAST-Announces-2013-Football-Schedule.aspx#composite . 2013-06-17 . dead .
  3. News: Sources: Xavier, Butler also joining . Brett . McMurphy . Andy . Katz . Andy Katz . Dana . O'Neil . ESPN.com . February 28, 2013 . February 28, 2013.
  4. New Name in College Sports - Current BIG EAST Enters New Era as 'American Athletic Conference' . Big East Conference . April 3, 2013 . April 4, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130407022202/http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/243706/New-Name-in-College-Sports---Current-BIG-EAST-Enters-New-Era-as--American-Athletic-Conference-.aspx . April 7, 2013 . dead . mdy-all .
  5. Louisville Tabbed As Favorite In Preseason Media Poll . American Athletic Conference . July 30, 2013 . August 2, 2013.
  6. http://theamerican.org/calendar.aspx?path=football&season=2013& The American 2013 Football Schedule
  7. Through week 5.
  8. News: American Athletic Conference Announces 2013 Postseason Football Honors. American Athletic Conference.