2013 Louisville Cardinals football team represented the University of Louisville in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The Cardinals were led by fourth-year head coach Charlie Strong . The Cardinals played their home games at Papa John 's Cardinal Stadium in Louisville , Kentucky . They were in their last year as a member of the American Athletic Conference ( formerly known as the Big East ) until they moved to the Atlantic Coast Conference starting on July 1 , 2014 . They finished the season 12 – 1 , 7 – 1 in American Athletic play to finish in second place . They were invited to the Russell Athletic Bowl where they defeated Miami ( FL )
Big East
Big East Conference (1979–2013)
2013 Louisville Cardinals football team