What Is 2013 Buffalo Bulls football team

Overview

The 2013 Buffalo Bulls football team represented the University at Buffalo in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Competing as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) East Division, the team was led by head coach Jeff Quinn in his fourth year at the helm.

Playing their home games at UB Stadium in Amherst, New York, the Bulls struggled to find consistency, finishing the season with a 5–7 overall record and a 3–5 mark in conference play. Despite flashes of offensive promise, the team failed to qualify for a bowl game for the third consecutive season.

• Head Coach Jeff Quinn led the team for the fourth straight season, compiling a 5–7 record in 2013 before being dismissed after the 2014 season.
• The Bulls opened the season with a 34–13 loss to UConn on August 29, 2013, setting a negative tone early in the year.
• Joe Licata, a redshirt freshman quarterback, started all 12 games, throwing for 2,313 yards and 18 touchdowns with 10 interceptions.
• Buffalo’s defense allowed an average of 29.8 points per game, ranking 107th out of 125 FBS teams in points allowed.
• The team’s best performance came in a 43–7 win over FCS opponent Albany on September 14, showcasing offensive firepower against weaker competition.

Season Performance and Key Players

The 2013 campaign highlighted both emerging talent and persistent struggles on both sides of the ball. While the offense showed improvement under young quarterback Joe Licata, the defense remained a liability throughout the season.

• Joe Licata became the first Buffalo freshman quarterback to start all 12 games, completing 60.7% of his passes for 2,313 yards.
• Branden Oliver, the team’s star running back, rushed for 1,395 yards in 2012 but was drafted by the San Diego Chargers, leaving a major void.
• Khalil Mack, a senior linebacker, recorded 82 tackles and 10.5 sacks before being selected 5th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Raiders.
• Offensive line challenges plagued the team, as Buffalo allowed 31 sacks—the second-most in the MAC that year.
• Wide receiver Alex Neutz led the team with 55 receptions, 747 yards, and 8 touchdowns, emerging as Licata’s top target.
• The special teams unit struggled, ranking 114th nationally in punt return defense, allowing 12.9 yards per return.

Comparison at a Glance

Buffalo’s 2013 season can be better understood by comparing it to prior years and conference peers in key statistical categories.

The table shows modest offensive improvement from 2011 to 2013, but defensive performance remained stagnant. Despite a slight uptick in wins, Buffalo continued to lag behind top MAC programs like Northern Illinois and Central Michigan in overall competitiveness.

Why It Matters

The 2013 season was a transitional year that underscored the challenges Buffalo faced in building a consistent FBS program. While it featured the emergence of future NFL talent, it also highlighted systemic issues in coaching and roster depth.

• Khalil Mack’s breakout season elevated Buffalo’s national profile, as he became one of the most dominant defensive players in college football.
• The team’s inability to win close games—0–4 in contests decided by 7 points or fewer—revealed a lack of clutch execution.
• Jeff Quinn’s 16–33 record over four seasons culminated in his firing after 2014, making 2013 a pivotal year in the program’s direction.
• The development of Joe Licata provided hope for the future, as he returned as starter in 2014 with improved offensive production.
• Buffalo’s continued struggles in road games (1–5 away from UB Stadium) exposed challenges in team resilience and preparation.
• The season emphasized the importance of recruiting and player development in a conference where parity often separates contenders from also-rans.

Ultimately, the 2013 Buffalo Bulls season served as a bridge between eras—marking the end of the Quinn era and the beginning of a rebuild that would eventually lead to future MAC competitiveness.