What Is 2013 Texas Longhorns football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2013 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas at Austin during the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season, finishing with a 8–5 record under head coach Mack Brown. They played in the Fiesta Bowl, losing to Oregon 30–35.

Key Facts

Finished the 2013 season with an 8–5 overall record
Played in the Fiesta Bowl on January 3, 2014, losing to Oregon 35–30
Competed in the Big 12 Conference and finished 7–2 in conference play
Head coach Mack Brown led the team in his 16th and final season
Quarterback David Ash started 10 games before injuries sidelined him

Overview

The 2013 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas at Austin during the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Competing as a member of the Big 12 Conference, the team was led by head coach Mack Brown in his 16th and final season at the helm.

The Longhorns finished the regular season with a strong 8–4 record, earning a berth in the prestigious Fiesta Bowl. Despite high expectations, they narrowly lost to the Oregon Ducks in a high-scoring 35–30 defeat on January 3, 2014.

Record: The team finished with an 8–5 overall record, including a 7–2 mark in Big 12 Conference play, showcasing consistent performance against conference rivals.
Fiesta Bowl appearance: Texas faced the Oregon Ducks in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl, a non-New Year's Six BCS bowl game held at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Head coach: Mack Brown coached his final season in 2013, stepping down after 16 years; he was succeeded by Charlie Strong in January 2014.
Quarterback situation: David Ash started 10 games but missed time due to concussion symptoms, while Case McCoy and Tyrone Swoopes saw action in relief roles.
Defensive performance: The Longhorns defense allowed an average of 27.5 points per game, struggling at times against spread offenses common in the Big 12.

Season Performance

The 2013 campaign featured a mix of promising wins and narrow losses, highlighting both offensive potential and defensive vulnerabilities. Texas opened the season ranked No. 15 in the AP Poll and showed flashes of competitiveness against top-tier teams.

Opening game: Texas defeated New Mexico 56–7 in their season opener on August 31, 2013, at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium.
Key win: A 31–28 victory over No. 23 Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown on October 12 was a highlight, boosting morale and Big 12 standings.
Loss to BYU: The Longhorns suffered a 41–7 defeat to BYU on September 7, exposing defensive weaknesses early in the season.
Rushing attack: Johnathan Gray led the ground game with 729 rushing yards, while the team averaged 179.3 yards per game on the ground.
Passing game: David Ash threw for 1,307 yards and 10 touchdowns before injuries, completing 59.5% of his passes across 10 appearances.
Final game: The 35–30 loss to Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl marked the end of the Mack Brown era and concluded a season of transition.

Comparison at a Glance

Here's how the 2013 Texas Longhorns compared to key Big 12 rivals and national contenders in major statistical categories:

Team	Overall Record	Conference Record	Points Per Game	Final AP Rank
Texas	8–5	7–2	33.2	NR
Baylor	11–2	8–1	48.1	6
Oklahoma	8–5	5–4	35.6	22
Texas Tech	8–5	5–4	40.6	NR
Kansas State	8–5	5–4	29.5	NR

The data shows that while Texas maintained a competitive record, they trailed behind powerhouses like Baylor in scoring and national recognition. Their 7–2 conference record was second only to Baylor’s 8–1, but tiebreakers and head-to-head results kept them out of the Big 12 Championship conversation. Despite strong offensive numbers, the lack of a final AP ranking reflected inconsistent performances and a bowl loss.

Why It Matters

The 2013 season marked a pivotal transition for Texas football, closing an era and setting the stage for future rebuilding. It highlighted both the challenges of maintaining elite status and the need for modernization in program leadership and strategy.

End of an era: Mack Brown’s departure after 16 seasons signaled the end of a stable but increasingly outdated coaching regime.
Recruiting shift: The transition paved the way for Charlie Strong, the program’s first Black head coach, emphasizing diversity and new direction.
Player development: Injuries to key players like David Ash underscored the need for greater depth and medical oversight.
Competitive context: Remaining competitive in the high-octane Big 12 required improved defensive schemes and faster adaptation.
Bowl significance: The Fiesta Bowl appearance maintained Texas’s presence in major postseason games despite declining national rankings.
Program legacy: The season reflected the broader challenge of sustaining success in a changing college football landscape.

Ultimately, the 2013 Texas Longhorns season serves as a case study in transition — a blend of past success and future uncertainty that continues to shape the program’s trajectory.