What Is 2013 Oklahoma State Cowboys football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2013 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team represented Oklahoma State University in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season, finishing with an 8-5 record under head coach Mike Gundy. They played in the Big 12 Conference and won the 2013 Heart of Dallas Bowl against Purdue with a 58-14 victory.

Key Facts

2013 Oklahoma State Cowboys finished with an 8-5 overall record
Team was led by head coach Mike Gundy in his 9th season
Posted a 5-4 record in Big 12 Conference play
Won the 2013 Heart of Dallas Bowl 58-14 over Purdue
Quarterback Clint Chelf threw for 2,448 yards and 22 touchdowns

Overview

The 2013 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team represented Oklahoma State University in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by ninth-year head coach Mike Gundy, the team competed in the Big 12 Conference and played their home games at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Cowboys finished the regular season with an 8-4 record, earning a spot in the Heart of Dallas Bowl.

The team showed strong offensive performance throughout the season, highlighted by a high-scoring bowl victory. Despite missing out on a BCS bowl berth, Oklahoma State ended the year on a high note with a dominant 58-14 win over Purdue. The 2013 season marked the Cowboys' 11th consecutive bowl appearance, continuing a streak of sustained success under Gundy.

8-5 final record: The Cowboys finished the season with 8 wins and 5 losses, including a decisive bowl victory over Purdue, marking a solid but unspectacular year.
Mike Gundy’s leadership: In his ninth season as head coach, Gundy maintained a consistent program, guiding Oklahoma State to a winning season for the eighth consecutive year.
Boone Pickens Stadium: The team played all home games at their 60,218-seat stadium in Stillwater, where they posted a 5-1 home record during the 2013 season.
Clint Chelf as starting QB: Quarterback Clint Chelf took over mid-season and finished with 2,448 passing yards and 22 touchdowns, becoming a key offensive driver.
Heart of Dallas Bowl: On January 1, 2014, Oklahoma State routed Purdue 58-14 in the Heart of Dallas Bowl, one of the most lopsided bowl victories in program history.

Season Performance

The 2013 campaign was defined by offensive firepower and mid-season inconsistency in Big 12 play. While the Cowboys started strong, losses to TCU, Baylor, and Oklahoma impacted their conference standing. However, their late-season bowl performance showcased their potential when executing at peak efficiency.

5-4 Big 12 record: Oklahoma State finished fifth in the Big 12 Conference with a 5-4 conference record, behind Kansas State, Oklahoma, Baylor, and TCU.
Offensive strength: The Cowboys averaged 35.5 points per game, ranking 34th nationally in scoring, powered by a balanced attack led by Chelf and running back Desmond Roland.
Defensive struggles: The defense allowed 29.2 points per game, a notable weakness that contributed to close losses against ranked opponents during conference play.
Key win over West Virginia: A 30-14 victory over West Virginia in October helped stabilize the season and kept bowl hopes alive during a mid-season slump.
Loss to Baylor: A 49-17 defeat to Baylor on November 16 exposed defensive vulnerabilities and dashed any lingering hopes for a BCS berth.
Bowl dominance: The 58-14 win over Purdue in the Heart of Dallas Bowl set a program record for most points in a bowl game, highlighting offensive explosiveness.

Comparison at a Glance

The 2013 season can be compared to previous years in terms of record, offensive output, and bowl results. The table below highlights key statistical benchmarks across recent seasons.

Season	Record (Overall)	Big 12 Record	Bowl Result	Points Per Game
2011	12-1	8-1	W, Cotton Bowl (41-38 vs. Stanford)	43.2
2012	8-5	6-3	L, Cowboys Challenge (38-36 vs. Purdue)	38.1
2013	8-5	5-4	W, Heart of Dallas Bowl (58-14 vs. Purdue)	35.5
2014	7-6	4-5	W, Cactus Bowl (35-17 vs. Washington State)	32.8
2015	10-3	6-3	W, Sugar Bowl (45-41 vs. Alabama)	36.9

The 2013 season mirrored the 2012 campaign in overall record but improved on the previous year’s bowl performance. While scoring dipped slightly from 2012, the lopsided bowl win provided a morale boost. Compared to the elite 2011 season, 2013 was a step back in competitiveness but still demonstrated program stability.

Why It Matters

The 2013 season was a transitional year that maintained Oklahoma State’s reputation as a consistent bowl team while highlighting areas for improvement. It underscored the importance of defensive development and mid-season resilience in a competitive Big 12 landscape.

Continuity under Gundy: The season reinforced Mike Gundy’s ability to sustain success, extending Oklahoma State’s bowl streak to 11 years, a program high.
Quarterback development: Clint Chelf’s emergence provided hope for future seasons, showing depth beyond the previous year’s starter, J.W. Walsh.
Bowl performance legacy: The 58-14 win became one of the most dominant bowl victories in school history, boosting team morale and fan engagement.
Recruiting momentum: A strong finish helped maintain recruiting momentum, especially in Texas and Oklahoma, key talent pipelines for the program.
Conference competitiveness: Despite falling short of the top tier, the Cowboys remained competitive in the Big 12, a conference known for high-scoring offenses.
Foundation for 2014: The season laid groundwork for future improvements, including defensive restructuring and offensive scheme refinements under Gundy.

Overall, the 2013 Oklahoma State Cowboys football season was a testament to resilience and program stability. While not a championship contender, the team delivered a winning record and a memorable bowl performance, keeping Oklahoma State relevant in the evolving landscape of college football.