The 2013 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cougars, led by head coach Bronco Mendenhall, played their home games at LaVell Edwards Stadium. This was the third year BYU competed as an independent. They finished the season 8–5. They were invited to the Fight Hunger Bowl where they lost to Washington, 31–16.
Before the season
Coaching changes
After the 2012 Poinsettia Bowl, longtime assistant coach Lance Reynolds announced his retirement after 33 years of service at BYU (29 years as a coach and 4 years as a player). To fill the vacancy, BYU looked to an old face. Longtime assistant Robert Anae was brought back from the University of Arizona as the new offensive coordinator. In addition to his position as the offensive coordinator, Anae was given the responsibility of helping Bronco evaluate the entire offensive staff.
On January 8, Mark Weber left BYU for Utah State after six years with the Cougars. Weber was hired by the Aggies as the new assistant head coach and as the offensive line coach.
On Monday, January 14, Coach Mendenhall informed running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Joe DuPaix and tight ends coach Ben Cahoon that their contracts would not be renewed for the 2013 season. It was also revealed that Brandon Doman's status with the university was uncertain for 2013. BYU announced they had interviewed Max Hall, Paul Peterson (Sacramento State offensive coordinator), and Steve Clark (Southern Utah offensive coordinator) for the position of quarterback coach for the 2013 season.
On Tuesday, January 15, BYU announced that two coaches had been hired as part of the new offensive staff for the 2013 season. Garett Tujague was hired and Mark Atuaia was moved from the athletic director's office as the assistant to the AD over to the football coaching staff. BYU's official press release said that positions wouldn't be announced until the staff was finalized, but common rumors stated that Tujague would become the offensive lines coach and Atuaia would become the running backs coach.
On Wednesday, January 16, BYU announced that Aaron Roderick had been hired as an assistant coach on the offensive side at BYU. Roderick was to join the Cougars after 8 years of service at Utah, and it was believed that he would serve as the receivers coach. Less than 24 hours after accepting the position at BYU, Roderick changed his mind and decided to return to the Utes for the 2013 season.
The final coaching staff members were announced on Friday, February 15. Jason Beck was hired as the quarterback coach and Guy Holliday was hired as the wide receiver coach.
On February 28, Bronco Mendenhall announced that Nick Howell had been promoted to the defensive coordinator position, Robert Anae was assistant head coach, and Kelly Popinga would serve as special teams coordinator.
2013 recruits
DeBeikes, England, Laulu-Pututau, Shumway, and Tapusoa served church missions right after graduation and did not join the BYU team until the 2015 season.
2013 returning missionaries
Eight return missionaries, 4 on the offensive side and 4 on the defensive side, returned and played their first action with BYU during the 2013 season.
2013 departures
The following Cougars graduated, transferred, or chose to serve two-year church missions after the 2012 season and didn't return to the team in 2013.
Spring Game
The annual Spring Game was held on Saturday, March 30, 2013. Instead of doing a traditional 20-minute scrimmage with 5 minutes per quarter, the Cougars held a 50-play scrimmage that became more of a 75-play scrimmage. More than 12,000 fans turned out to see the first team offense and second team defense (titled BYU West) take on the second team offense and first team defense (BYU East). Several expected starters, including QB Taysom Hill, who had not been cleared for full contact, were held out of the scrimmage. The offense scored four touchdowns and added one field goal in a 15–13 victory by the West team.