What Is 2013 Kansas Jayhawks football team

Overview

The 2013 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas during the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Competing in the Big 12 Conference, the team struggled to find consistency, finishing with a 3–9 overall record and a 1–8 mark in conference play.

Under the leadership of head coach Charlie Weis, who was in his second season, the Jayhawks showed flashes of improvement but failed to build sustained momentum. Despite high expectations following a recruiting push, the team ranked near the bottom of the Big 12 in both scoring offense and defense.

• Season record: The Jayhawks finished 3–9 overall and 1–8 in Big 12 play, their worst conference performance since joining the league in 1996.
• Head coach:Charlie Weis led the team but was dismissed after the 2014 season following a 2–10 record, though he remained in charge throughout 2013.
• Home stadium: The team played all home games at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas, which has a capacity of 50,071.
• Scoring output: Kansas averaged 21.1 points per game, totaling 253 points across 12 games, ranking 96th nationally in scoring offense.
• Defensive struggles: The defense allowed 34.8 points per game, among the worst in FBS, contributing heavily to their losing record.

Season Performance Breakdown

The 2013 campaign was marked by close losses and missed opportunities, with five of the nine losses coming by a touchdown or less. The Jayhawks showed potential early but couldn’t close out games against stronger competition.

• September opener: Kansas lost to North Dakota State 34–10 in Week 2, a surprising defeat to an FCS opponent.
• First win: The Jayhawks earned their first victory on September 21, defeating Memphis 24–19 in a tightly contested game.
• Big 12 win: Kansas secured its only conference victory on November 16, beating Texas 31–30 in a dramatic comeback.
• Offensive leader: Quarterback Montell Cozart emerged late in the season, throwing for 1,209 yards and 8 touchdowns as a true freshman.
• Defensive standout: Safety Denzel Johnson led the team with 90 total tackles, including 54 solo stops.
• Season finale: The Jayhawks closed the year with a 35–7 loss to Kansas State in the Sunflower Showdown, extending a long losing streak in the rivalry.

Comparison at a Glance

The 2013 season can be better understood by comparing Kansas’s performance to other Big 12 teams and national averages in key statistical categories.

The table highlights significant gaps between Kansas and league averages, especially in scoring and third-down efficiency. These shortcomings reflected deeper systemic issues in coaching, talent development, and in-game execution that persisted throughout the season.

Why It Matters

The 2013 season was a pivotal moment in the trajectory of Kansas football, underscoring the challenges of competing in a power conference without consistent program investment. It ultimately led to major changes in leadership and strategy in the years that followed.

• Program evaluation: The poor record prompted a critical review of Charlie Weis’s tenure, leading to his firing after the 2014 season.
• Recruiting impact: Continued losing seasons made it harder to attract elite recruits to Lawrence, affecting future team strength.
• Stadium attendance: Average home attendance dropped to 37,000, down from previous years, signaling waning fan interest.
• Conference standing: Kansas finished last or tied for last in the Big 12 in 2013, continuing a trend of non-competitiveness.
• Coaching changes: The struggles accelerated a shift toward hiring David Beaty in 2015, who prioritized culture and recruiting.
• Historical context: The 2013 season became a benchmark for how far the program had fallen since its 2007 Orange Bowl appearance.

While the 2013 season was largely forgettable on the field, it played a crucial role in shaping the long-term rebuilding efforts at Kansas, setting the stage for future overhauls in coaching and athletic administration.