# 2013 American Athletic Conference football season

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 | 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 |
| Cincinnati | AP | RV | RV | NR | | | | | | | | | | RV | RV | RV | RV | NR |
| Cincinnati | C | RV | RV | NR | | | RV | NR | | | | | RV | RV | 25 | 23 | RV | RV |
| Cincinnati | Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | RV | RV | RV | RV |
| Cincinnati | BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | |
| Connecticut | AP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Connecticut | C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Connecticut | Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | | |
| Connecticut | BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | |
| Houston | AP | | | | | | | | RV | NR | | RV | RV | NR | | | | |
| Houston | C | | | | | | | | RV | RV | RV | RV | NR | | | | | |
| Houston | Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | NR | | | |
| Houston | BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | |
| Louisville | AP | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 15 |
| Louisville | C | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 |
| Louisville | Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | 6 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 16 |
| Louisville | BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 |
| Memphis | AP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Memphis | C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Memphis | Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | | |
| Memphis | BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | |
| Rutgers | AP | | | | | RV | RV | RV | RV | NR | | | | | | | | |
| Rutgers | C | RV | NR | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | NR | RV | NR | | | | | | | |
| Rutgers | Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | | |
| Rutgers | BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | |
| SMU | AP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| SMU | C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| SMU | Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | | |
| SMU | BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | |
| South Florida | AP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| South Florida | C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| South Florida | Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | | |
| South Florida | BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | |
| Temple | AP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Temple | C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Temple | Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | | |
| Temple | BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | |
| UCF | AP | | | | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | 21 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 10 |
| UCF | C | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | 25 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 12 |
| UCF | Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | RV | 25 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 15 |
| UCF | BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | 23 | 23 | 21 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 15 |

## Schedule

* Index to colors and formatting
* American member won
* American member lost
* American teams in bold

### Week 1

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 29 | 7:00 p.m. | Akron | UCF | Bright House Networks Stadium • Orlando, FL | ESPN3 | W 38–7 | 35,115 |
| August 29 | 7:30 p.m. | Towson | Connecticut | Rentschler Field • East Hartford, CT | ESPN3 | L 33-18 | 30,689 |
| August 29 | 10:00 p.m. | Rutgers | Fresno State | Bulldog Stadium • Fresno, CA | ESPNU | L 52-51 $^{OT}$ | 33,098 |
| August 30 | 8:00 pm | Texas Tech | SMU | Gerald J. Ford Stadium • Dallas, TX | ESPN | L 43-21 | 34,790 |
| August 30 | 8:30 p.m. | Southern | Houston | Reliant Stadium • Houston, TX | ESPN3 | W 62–13 | 26,205 |
| August 31 | 12:00 p.m. | Purdue | Cincinnati | Nippert Stadium • Cincinnati, OH | ESPNU | W 42-7 | 36,007 |
| August 31 | 3:30 p.m. | Temple | No. 14 Notre Dame | Notre Dame Stadium • South Bend, IN | NBC | L 28-6 | 80,795 |
| August 31 | 7:00 p.m. | McNeese State | South Florida | Raymond James Stadium • Tampa, FL | ESPN3 | L 53-21 | 35,470 |
| September 1 | 3:30 p.m. | Ohio | No. 9 Louisville | Papa John's Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, KY | ESPN | W 49-7 | 55,332 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||
Bye Week: Memphis

### Week 2

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 6 | 8:00 pm | UCF | FIU | FIU Stadium • Miami, FL | CBSSN | W 38–0 | 15,823 |
| September 7 | 12:00 pm | Cincinnati | Illinois | Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL | ESPN2 | L 17–45 | 43,031 |
| September 7 | 12:00 pm | South Florida | Michigan State | Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI | ESPNU | L 6–21 | 70,401 |
| September 7 | 12:00 p.m. | Houston | Temple | Lincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PA | American Athletic Network | HOU 22–13 | 27,328 |
| September 7 | 12:00 p.m. | Norfolk State | Rutgers | High Point Solutions Stadium • Piscataway, NJ | CBSSN | W 0–38 | 49,111 |
| September 7 | 12:00 p.m. | Eastern Kentucky | #8 Louisville | Papa John's Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, KY | ESPN3 | W 7–44 | 53,647 |
| September 7 | 4:30 p.m. | Duke | Memphis | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TN | ESPN3 | L 28–14 | 44,237 |
| September 7 | 8:00 p.m. | Montana State | SMU | Gerald J. Ford Stadium • Dallas, TX | ESPN3 | W 30–31 | 10,107 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||
Bye Week: Connecticut

### Week 3

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 14 | 12:00 p.m. | #7 Louisville | Kentucky | Commonwealth Stadium • Lexington, KY (Battle for the Governor's Cup) | ESPN | W 27–13 | 65,445 |
| September 14 | 1:00 p.m. | Eastern Michigan | Rutgers | High Point Solutions Stadium • Piscataway, NJ | ESPN3 | W 28–10 | 47,604 |
| September 14 | 1:00 p.m. | Fordham | Temple | Lincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PA | ESPN3 | L 30–29 | 20,047 |
| September 14 | 6:00 p.m. | UCF | Penn State | Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA | Big Ten Network | W 34–31 | 92,855 |
| September 14 | 7:00 p.m. | Northwestern State | Cincinnati | Nippert Stadium • Cincinnati, OH | ESPN3 | W 9–66 | 30,384 |
| September 14 | 7:00 p.m. | Florida Atlantic | South Florida | Raymond James Stadium • Tampa, FL | ESPN3 | L 28–10 | 33,792 |
| September 14 | 7:30 p.m. | Maryland | Connecticut | Rentschler Field • East Hartford, CT | ESPN3 | L 32–21 | 38,916 |
| September 14 | 8:00 p.m. | Memphis | Middle Tennessee | Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TN | CSS | L 15–17 | 23,992 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||
Bye Week: Houston, SMU

### Week 4

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 21 | 8:00 p.m. | No. 15 Michigan | Connecticut | Rentschler Field • East Hartford, CT | ABC | L 24–21 | 42,704 |
| September 21 | 4:00 p.m. | Cincinnati | Miami (OH) | Yager Stadium • Oxford, OH (Battle for the Victory Bell) | ESPN3 | W 14–0 | 21,269 |
| September 21 | 3:00 p.m. | Houston | Rice | Reliant Stadium • Houston, TX (rivalry) | FSN | W 31–26 | 34,831 |
| September 21 | 7:00 p.m. | SMU | Texas A&M | Kyle Field • College Station, TX | ESPNU | L 42–13 | 86,542 |
| September 21 | 3:30 p.m. | Arkansas | Rutgers | High Point Solutions Stadium • Piscataway, NJ | ESPN | W 28–24 | 51,969 |
| September 21 | 4:30 p.m. | Arkansas State | Memphis | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TN | ESPN3 | W 31–7 | 36,279 |
| September 21 | 12:00 p.m. | FIU | #7 Louisville | Papa John's Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, KY | American Athletic Network | W 72–0 | 51,586 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||
Bye Week: Temple, South Florida, UCF

### Week 5

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 28 | 12:00 p.m. | South Carolina | UCF | Bright House Networks Stadium • Orlando, FL | ABC | L 28–25 | 47,605 |
| September 28 | 12:00 p.m. | Miami | South Florida | Raymond James Stadium • Tampa, FL | ESPNU | L 49–21 | 47,562 |
| September 28 | 12:00 p.m. | SMU | TCU | Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, TX | FS1 | L 17–48 | 45,111 |
| September 28 | 3:30 p.m. | Connecticut | Buffalo | UB Stadium • Amherst, NY | ESPN3 | L 12–41 | 20,952 |
| September 28 | 4:00 p.m. | Houston | UTSA | Alamodome • San Antonio, TX | FSN | W 59–28 | 32,487 |
| September 28 | 4:00 p.m. | Temple | Idaho | Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID | Altitude | L 24–26 | 15,323 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||
Bye Week: Cincinnati, Louisville, Memphis, Rutgers

### Week 6

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| October 5 | 12:00 p.m. | #7 Louisville | Temple | Lincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PA | American Athletic Network | UL 30-7 | 21,709 |
| October 5 | 12:00 p.m. | Rutgers | SMU | Gerald J. Ford Stadium • Dallas, TX | ESPNews | RU 55-52 $^{OT}$ | 19,436 |
| October 5 | 4:30 p.m. | UCF | Memphis | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TN | ESPN3 | UCF 24-17 | 30,274 |
| October 5 | 7:00 p.m. | Cincinnati | South Florida | Raymond James Stadium • Tampa, FL | ESPN3 | USF 26-20 | 31,077 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||
Bye Week: Connecticut, Houston

### Week 7

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| October 10 | 7:30 p.m. | Rutgers | #8 Louisville | Papa John's Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, KY | ESPN | UL 24-10 | 55,168 |
| October 11 | 8:30 p.m. | Temple | Cincinnati | Nippert Stadium • Cincinnati, OH | ESPN | CIN 38-20 | 32,220 |
| October 12 | 12:00 p.m. | Memphis | Houston | BBVA Compass Stadium • Houston, TX | ESPNews | HOU 25–15 | 20,103 |
| October 12 | 12:00 p.m. | South Florida | Connecticut | Rentschler Field • East Hartford, CT | American Athletic Network | USF 13–10 | 37,861 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||
Bye Week: SMU, UCF

### Week 8

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| October 18 | 8:00 p.m. | UCF | #8 Louisville | Papa John's Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, KY | ESPN | UCF 38–35 | 55,215 |
| October 19 | 12:00 p.m. | Connecticut | Cincinnati | Nippert Stadium • Cincinnati, OH | ESPNU | CIN 41–16 | 28,847 |
| October 19 | 12:00 p.m. | SMU | Memphis | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TN | American Athletic Network | SMU 34–29 | 16,241 |
| October 19 | 1:00 p.m. | Army | Temple | Lincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PA | ESPN3 | W 34–29 | 25,333 |
| October 19 | 3:30 p.m. | BYU | Houston | Reliant Stadium • Houston, TX | ESPNews | L 47–46 | 33,115 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||
Bye Week: Rutgers, South Florida

### Week 9

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| October 26 | 12:00 p.m. | Connecticut | No. 21 UCF | Bright House Networks Stadium • Orlando, FL | American Athletic Network | UCF 62–17 | 37,924 |
| October 26 | 12:00 p.m. | Houston | Rutgers | High Point Solutions Stadium • Piscataway, NJ | ESPNews | HOU 49–14 | 52,200 |
| October 26 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 18 Louisville | South Florida | Raymond James Stadium • Tampa, FL | ESPN2 | LOU 34–3 | 35,782 |
| October 26 | 3:00 p.m. | Temple | SMU | Gerald J. Ford Stadium • Dallas, TX | ESPN3 | SMU 59–49 | 15,786 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||
Bye Week: Cincinnati, Memphis

### Week 10

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| October 30 | 8:00 p.m. | Cincinnati | Memphis | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TN | ESPN2 | CIN 34–21 | 22,571 |
| October 31 | 7:00 p.m. | South Florida | Houston | Reliant Stadium • Houston, TX | ESPN | HOU 35–23 | 22,707 |
| November 2 | 12:00 p.m. | Temple | Rutgers | High Point Solutions Stadium • Piscataway, NJ | American Athletic Network | RUT 23–20 | 46,447 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||
Bye Week: Connecticut, Louisville, SMU, UCF

### Week 11

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| November 8 | 8:30 p.m. | #20 Louisville | Connecticut | Rentschler Field • East Hartford, CT | ESPN2 | LOU 31-10 | 27,104 |
| November 9 | 7:00 p.m. | Houston | #19 UCF | Bright House Networks Stadium • Orlando, FL | ESPN2 | UCF 19-14 | 44,665 |
| November 9 | 12:00 p.m. | SMU | Cincinnati | Nippert Stadium • Cincinnati, OH | American Athletic Network | CIN 28-25 | 28,069 |
| November 9 | 3:30 p.m. | UT Martin | Memphis | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TN | ESPN3 | MEM 21-6 | 24,487 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||
Bye Week: Rutgers, South Florida

### Week 12

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| November 16 | 12:00 p.m. | Cincinnati | Rutgers | High Point Solutions Stadium • Piscataway, NJ | | CIN 52-17 | 40,870 |
| November 16 | 3:00p.m. | Connecticut | SMU | Gerald J. Ford Stadium • Dallas, TX | | SMU 38-21 | 14,639 |
| November 16 | 7:00 p.m. | Houston | #19 Louisville | Papa John's Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, KY | ESPNU | LOU 20-13 | 53,027 |
| November 16 | 7:00 p.m. | Memphis | South Florida | Raymond James Stadium • Tampa, FL | | MEM 23-10 | 30,831 |
| November 16 | 12:00 p.m. | #15 UCF | Temple | Lincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PA | American Athletic Network | UCF 39-36 | 20,174 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||

### Week 13

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| November 21 | 7:30 p.m. | Rutgers | #17 UCF | Bright House Networks Stadium • Orlando, FL | ESPN | UCF 41-17 | 41,244 |
| November 23 | 12:00 p.m. | Cincinnati | Houston | Rice Stadium • Houston, TX | ESPNews | CIN 24-17 | 20,197 |
| November 23 | 7:00 p.m. | Connecticut | Temple | Lincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PA | | CONN 28-21 | 20,045 |
| November 23 | 12:00 p.m. | Memphis | #21 Louisville | Papa John's Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, KY | American Athletic Network | LOU 24-17 | 46,421 |
| November 23 | 7:00 p.m. | SMU | South Florida | Raymond James Stadium • Tampa, FL | | SMU 16-6 | 28,397 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||

### Week 14

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| November 29 | 8:00 p.m. | South Florida | #17 UCF | Bright House Networks Stadium • Orlando, FL (War on I-4) | ESPN | UCF 23-20 | 45,952 |
| November 29 | 12:00 p.m. | SMU | Houston | Reliant Stadium • Houston, TX (rivalry) | ESPN2 | HOU 34-0 | 23,210 |
| November 30 | 12:00 p.m. | Rutgers | Connecticut | Rentschler Field • East Hartford, CT | ESPNU | CONN 28-17 | 22,163 |
| November 30 | 12:00 p.m. | Temple | Memphis | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TN | | TEM 41-21 | 25,671 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||
Bye Week: Cincinnati, Louisville

### Week 15

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| December 5 | 7:30 p.m. | #19 Louisville | Cincinnati | Nippert Stadium • Cincinnati, OH (Battle for The Keg of Nails) | ESPN | LOU 31-24 OT | 35,097 |
| December 7 | 7:30 p.m. | South Florida | Rutgers | High Point Solutions Stadium • Piscataway, NJ | ESPN2 | RUTG 31-6 | 37,645 |
| December 7 | 1:00 p.m. | Memphis | Connecticut | Rentschler Field • East Hartford, CT | | CONN 45-10 | 17,086 |
| December 7 | 12:00 p.m. | #15 UCF | SMU | Gerald J. Ford Stadium • Dallas, TX | ESPN | UCF 17-13 | 12,589 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||
Bye Week: Temple, Houston
Reference:

## Bowl Games

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| December 28* | 12:15 p.m. | Rutgers | Notre Dame | Yankee Stadium • Bronx, NY (Pinstripe Bowl) | ESPN | L 29-16 | 47,122 |
| December 28* | 3:20 p.m. | Cincinnati | North Carolina | Bank of America Stadium • Charlotte, NC (Belk Bowl) | ESPN | L 39-17 | 45,211 |
| December 28* | 6:45 p.m. | No. 18 Louisville | Miami Hurricanes | Citrus Bowl • Orlando, FL (Russell Athletic Bowl) | ESPN | W 36-9 | 51,098 |
| January 1* | 8:30 p.m. | No. 15 UCF | No. 6 Baylor | University of Phoenix Stadium • Glendale, AZ (Fiesta Bowl) | ESPN | W 52-42 | 65,172 |
| January 4* | 1:00 p.m. | Vanderbilt | Houston | Legion Field • Birmingham, AL (BBVA Compass Bowl) | ESPN | L 41-24 | 42,717 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||
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 | Opponent Conference |
| 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

| Conference | Record |
| ACC | 1-3 |
| Big 12 | 1-2 |
| Big Ten | 2-3 |
| Independents | 1-3 |
| Pac-12 | 0-0 |
| SEC | 2-3 |
| Total | 7-14 |

## 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 | Offensive | Offensive | Defensive | Defensive | Defensive | Special teams | Special teams | Special teams |
| Week | Player | Position | Team | Player | Position | Team | Player | Position | Team |
| Aug 31 | Teddy Bridgewater | QB | Louisville | Terrance Plummer | LB | UCF | Richie Leone | P | Houston |
| Sept 7 | Deontay Greenberry | WR | Houston | Calvin Pryor | S | Louisville | JaBryce Taylor | WR | SMU |
| Sept 14 | Blake Bortles | QB | UCF | Lorenzo Mauldin | DE | Louisville | Quron Pratt | WR | Rutgers |
| Sept 21 | Gary Nova | QB | Rutgers | Martin Ifedi | DE | Memphis | Janarion Grant | WR | Rutgers |
| Sept 28 | John O'Korn | QB | Houston | William Jackson | CB | Houston | Brandon Wilson | DB | Houston |
| Oct 5 | Garrett Gilbert | QB | SMU | Terrance Plummer | LB | UCF | Marvin Kloss | K | USF |
| Oct 12 | Brendon Kay | QB | Cincinnati | Calvin Pryor | S | Louisville | Jake Elliott | K | Memphis |
| Oct 19 | Storm Johnson | RB | UCF | Derrick Matthews | LB | Houston | Paul Layton | P | Temple |
| Oct 26 | Garrett Gilbert | QB | SMU | Trevon Stewart | S | Houston | Shawn Moffitt | K | UCF |
| Nov 2 | Gary Nova | QB | Rutgers | Zach Edwards | S | Cincinnati | Marvin Kloss | K | USF |
| Nov 9 | Garrett Gilbert | QB | SMU | Brandon Alexander | S | UCF | Charles Gaines | CB | Louisville |
| Nov 16 | J. J. Worton | WR | UCF | Bobby McCain | CB | Memphis | Jake Elliott | K | Memphis |
| Nov 23 | Brandon Kay | QB | Cincinnati | Yawin Smallwood | LB | Connecticut | Richie Leone | P | Houston |
| Nov 30 | P. J. Walker | QB | Temple | Taylor Mack | CB | Connecticut | Rannell Hall | WR | UCF |

### Position key

| Center | C | Cornerback | CB | Defensive back | DB | Defensive end | DE |
| Defensive lineman | DL | Defensive tackle | DT | Guard | G | Kickoff returner | KR |
| Offensive tackle | OT | Offensive lineman | OL | Linebacker | LB | Long snapper | LS |
| Punter | P | Placekicker | PK | Punt returner | PR | Quarterback | QB |
| Running back | RB | Safety | S | Tight end | TE | Wide receiver | WR |

## 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 Year | Blake Bortles, UCF |
| Defensive Player of the Year | Marcus Smith, Louisville |
| Special Teams Player of the Year | Tom Hornsey, Memphis Demarcus Ayers, Houston |
| Rookie of the Year | John O' Korn, Houston |
| Coach of the Year | George O' Leary, UCF |
2013 All-American Athletic Conference Football Teams :
| First Team | First Team | Second Team | Second Team |
| Offense | Defense | Offense | Defense |
| WR - 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, Houston | DL - 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, 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 Stanback, 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 ||||

## Home game attendance

| Team | Stadium | Capacity | Gm 1 | Gm 2 | Gm 3 | Gm 4 | Gm 5 | Gm 6 | Total | Average |
| 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