A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
| 2013 Houston Cougars football | |
|---|---|
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BBVA Compass Bowl vs. Vanderbilt, L 24–41 | |
| Conference | American Athletic Conference |
| Record | 8–5 (5–3 The American) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Doug Meacham (1st season) |
| Offensive scheme | Spread |
| Defensive coordinator | David Gibbs (1st season) |
| Base defense | Multiple |
| Home stadium | Reliant Stadium (5 games) BBVA Compass Stadium (2 games) |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 10 UCF $ | 8 | – | 0 | 12 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 15 Louisville | 7 | – | 1 | 12 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cincinnati | 6 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Houston | 5 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SMU | 4 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rutgers | 3 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UConn | 3 | – | 5 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Florida | 2 | – | 6 | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Memphis | 1 | – | 7 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Temple | 1 | – | 7 | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2013 Houston Cougars football team represented the University of Houston in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the 68th year of season play for Houston. The season marked the first for the Cougars as a member of the American Athletic Conference. Due to construction of the new TDECU Stadium during the 2013 season, the team played its home games at other locations in Houston.
The season featured the Cougars’ continued Bayou Bucket Classic rivalry with the Rice Owls. The game again became a non-conference battle due to the departure from Conference USA for the Cougars following the 2012 season. The previous time the two teams met as non-conference foes was during the 2004 season when the Rice Owls was a member of the Western Athletic Conference. The 2013 Bayou Bucket Classic was played at Reliant Stadium.
They finished the season 8–5, 5–3 in American Athletic play to finish in fourth place. They were invited to the BBVA Compass Bowl where they were defeated by Vanderbilt.
Previous season
With a 5–7 overall record, the 2012 season was a step backward for the program, as it compiled only its second losing season since 2005. The team suffered an early season humiliating loss against Texas State in Houston's season opener, and offensive coordinator Mike Nesbitt was forced to resign after only one game. First year head coach Tony Levine promoted Travis Bush to fill the position. It was the final season that the team would play its home games at the on-campus Robertson Stadium, as it was closed and demolished soon after the season finished.
Preseason
Recruits
For the 2013 recruiting class, Houston attained its highest overall class ranking since 2010, and its second-highest ranking ever by Rivals.com. However, Scout.com only gave Houston its seventh-best overall ranking.
| US college sports recruiting information for 2013 recruits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
| Markeith Ambles WR |
Yuma, Arizona | Arizona Western CC | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 203 lb (92 kg) | 4.7 | Apr 8, 2013 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 83
| ||||||
| Demarcus Ayers WR |
Lancaster, Texas | Lancaster HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 174 lb (79 kg) | 4.44 | Feb 4, 2013 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 76
| ||||||
| Tyus Bowser DE |
Tyler, Texas | John Tyler HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | 4.60 | Feb 5, 2013 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 74
| ||||||
| Billy Cosh QB |
Annapolis, Maryland | Butler CC | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 218 lb (99 kg) | N/A | Dec 3, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 76
| ||||||
| Ty Cummings K |
Southlake, Texas | Carroll HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | N/A | Apr 30, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 76
| ||||||
| Emerald Faletuipapai OL |
Gardena, California | Junípero Serra HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 337 lb (153 kg) | N/A | Dec 19, 2012 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 71
| ||||||
| Nomluis Fruge LB |
Houston, Texas | Furr HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 193 lb (88 kg) | N/A | Dec 13, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 68
| ||||||
| Donald Gage WR |
Zachary, Louisiana | Zachary HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 173 lb (78 kg) | 4.45 | Feb 1, 2013 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 78
| ||||||
| Joseph Glenn RB |
Giddings, Texas | Giddings HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 199 lb (90 kg) | 4.5 | Jul 22, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 78
| ||||||
| Trevor Harris DE |
Brooklyn, New York | ASA CC | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 237 lb (108 kg) | 4.5 | Dec 19, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A ESPN grade: NR
| ||||||
| D'Juan Hines QB |
Houston, Texas | Dekaney HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 4.5 | Jun 22, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 76
| ||||||
| Chauntez Jackson DE |
Inglewood, California | Inglewood HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 237 lb (108 kg) | N/A | Jan 16, 2013 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 75
| ||||||
| Chauntez Jackson DE |
Inglewood, California | Inglewood HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 237 lb (108 kg) | N/A | Jan 16, 2013 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 75
| ||||||
| Michael Jolivet DE |
Beaumont, Texas | Navarro CC | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 247 lb (112 kg) | 4.65 | Jul 21, 2012 
|
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 77
| ||||||
| John Leday WR |
Port Arthur, Texas | Memorial HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 183 lb (83 kg) | N/A | Dec 17, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A ESPN grade: NR
| ||||||
| Kent London DB |
Milpitas, California | Foothill CC | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 213 lb (97 kg) | 4.5 | Feb 7, 2013 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 73
| ||||||
| Tyler McCloskey LB |
Houston, Texas | Memorial HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 223 lb (101 kg) | N/A | Dec 21, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A ESPN grade: NR
| ||||||
| John O'Korn QB |
Fort Lauderdale, Florida | St. Thomas Aquinas HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 207 lb (94 kg) | 4.7 | Jun 22, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 77
| ||||||
| Damien Parris OL |
San Pablo, California | Contra Costa CC | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | 4.9 | Dec 16, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 73
| ||||||
| Deondre Skinner TE |
Patterson, Louisiana | Patterson HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | 4.9 | Jan 13, 2013 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 77
| ||||||
| Ja'Braylin Thomas OL |
Weimar, Texas | Weimar HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 320 lb (150 kg) | N/A | May 16, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 76
| ||||||
| Josh Thomas OL |
Shreveport, Louisiana | Evangel Christian Academy HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 329 lb (149 kg) | N/A | Mar 31, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 73
| ||||||
| Nick Thurman DT |
Dallas, Texas | Lake Highlands High School HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 260 lb (120 kg) | N/A | Dec 17, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 73
| ||||||
| Caleb Tucker LB |
Monroe, Louisiana | Ouachita Parish HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | 4.5 | Dec 19, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 76
| ||||||
| Turon Walker DB |
Pleasant Hill, California | Diablo Valley CC | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 4.5 | Dec 14, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 75
| ||||||
| Greg Ward CB |
Tyler, Texas | John Tyler HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 163 lb (74 kg) | 4.5 | Jun 20, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 76
| ||||||
| Javin Webb RB |
Shreveport, Louisiana | Evangel Christian Academy HS | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 187 lb (85 kg) | N/A | Dec 16, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 70
| ||||||
| Zach White DB |
Desoto, Texas | Evangel Christian Academy HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 163 lb (74 kg) | 4.5 | Feb 4, 2013 |