What Is 2013 Nevada Wolf Pack football team

Overview

The 2013 Nevada Wolf Pack football team represented the University of Nevada, Reno in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by first-year head coach Brian Polian, the team competed in the Mountain West Conference's West Division, aiming to rebuild after a losing 2012 season.

Despite high hopes for improvement, the Wolf Pack struggled with consistency, finishing with a 4–8 overall record and 2–6 in conference play. Their season concluded with a four-game losing streak, highlighting offensive inefficiencies and defensive lapses.

• Record: The team posted a 4–8 overall record, their worst since 2003, failing to qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 2007.
• Conference: Competed in the Mountain West Conference, finishing fifth in the six-team West Division behind Fresno State, San Diego State, and others.
• Home field: Played all home games at Mackay Stadium, a historic 30,000-seat venue located on the university's campus in Reno, Nevada.
• Head coach: Brian Polian, son of NFL executive Bill Polian, took over as head coach in December 2012 and began his tenure with a 1–2 start in 2013.
• Key player: Quarterback Cody Fajardo returned as starter, throwing for 1,999 yards and 12 touchdowns, while rushing for 787 yards and 10 scores.

Season Performance

The 2013 campaign was marked by missed opportunities and inconsistent offensive execution, particularly in close games. The Wolf Pack showed flashes of potential but failed to sustain momentum over a full season.

• September: Opened with a 24–17 win over California but lost close games to Eastern Michigan (37–35) and Colorado State (42–28), revealing defensive vulnerabilities.
• October: Secured wins over UNLV (42–21) and Idaho (52–21), the latter being a non-conference game, but dropped contests to Fresno State and San Diego State.
• November: Lost to Hawaii (34–19), Air Force (28–22), and New Mexico (42–26), with all three defeats coming by double-digit margins.
• December: Concluded the season with a 35–14 loss to San Jose State, marking their fourth consecutive loss and sealing a losing record.
• Offense: Averaged 26.8 points per game, with 1,999 passing yards and 2,287 rushing yards, relying heavily on Fajardo’s dual-threat capabilities.
• Defense: Allowed 31.5 points per game, ranking among the bottom third nationally in scoring defense, struggling particularly against the run.

Comparison at a Glance

Here's how the 2013 Nevada Wolf Pack compared to select Mountain West teams in key statistical categories:

The table illustrates Nevada’s struggles relative to conference peers. While they outperformed Hawaii and tied UNLV in wins, they fell well short of division leaders Fresno State and San Diego State. Their point differential of –56 highlighted offensive limitations and defensive shortcomings, especially in conference matchups.

Why It Matters

The 2013 season was a pivotal moment in Nevada’s football program, setting the stage for future rebuilding efforts under new leadership. Though not a successful year on the field, it provided critical experience for young players and coaching staff.

• Transition year: Marked the first season under Brian Polian, who aimed to instill discipline and accountability after a 7–6 finish in 2012.
• Player development: Cody Fajardo gained valuable experience, later becoming one of Nevada’s most prolific dual-threat quarterbacks in school history.
• Recruiting impact: The losing record made recruiting more challenging, but Polian focused on West Coast talent to rebuild depth.
• Program direction: The season underscored the need for defensive upgrades, leading to schematic changes in subsequent years.
• Historical context: Nevada had won at least seven games in each of the prior five seasons, making 2013 a notable downturn.
• Future outlook: The team rebounded in 2014, finishing 7–6 and earning a bowl berth, showing resilience after the 2013 setback.