2002 NCAA Division I-A football season

The 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season ended the season with what most consider an exciting double overtime national championship game. Ohio State and Miami both came into the Fiesta Bowl undefeated. The underdog Buckeyes defeated the Hurricanes 31–24, ending Miami's 34 game winning streak. However, controversy did surround the end of the game. After Miami had taken the lead into overtime, Ohio State had a fourth and goal opportunity. Buckeye quarterback Craig Krenzel's pass fell incomplete in the end zone, appearing that Miami had won their 2nd straight title. However, as the Miami team began to race on the field, a late was flag thrown on the play for pass interference. Though many have questioned the call, the Big 12 reviewed and confirmed the call. Jim Tressel won the national championship in only his second year as head coach.

Rose Bowl officials were vocally upset over the loss of the Big Ten champ from the game. Former New England Patriots coach Pete Carroll returned the USC Trojans to a BCS bid in only his second season as head coach. Notre Dame also returned to prominence, as Tyrone Willingham became the first coach in Notre Dame history to win 10 games in his first season.

The only conference move during this season saw the University of Central Florida leave the Independent ranks to join the Mid-American Conference as its 14th member.

Bowl Games
The Rose Bowl normally features the champions of the Big Ten and the Pac-10. However, Big Ten-champion Ohio State, finishing #2 in the BCS, had qualified to play in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl for the national championship against Miami (Fla.) Earlier in the season, Ohio State had defeated Washington State 25-7.

After the national championship was set, the Orange Bowl had the next pick, and invited #3 (#5 BCS) Iowa from the Big Ten. When it was the Rose Bowl's turn to select, the best available team was #8 (#7 BCS) Oklahoma, who won the Big 12 Championship Game. When it came time for the Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl to make a second pick, both wanted Pac-10 co-champion USC. However, a BCS rule stated that if two bowls wanted the same team, the bowl with the higher payoff had priority. The Orange Bowl immediately extended an at-large bid to the #5 Trojans and paired them with at-large #3 Iowa in a Big Ten/Pac-10 "Rose Bowl East" matchup in the 2003 Orange Bowl. The Rose Bowl was left to pair Oklahoma with Pac-10 co-champion Washington State. Rose Bowl committee executive director Mitch Dorger was not pleased with the results.

As such, the BCS instituted a new rule, whereby a bowl losing its conference champion to the BCS championship could "protect" the second-place team from that conference from going to another bowl. This left the Sugar Bowl with #14 BCS Florida State, the winner of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Notre Dame at 10-2 and #9 in the BCS standings was invited to the 2003 Gator Bowl. Kansas State at #8 also was left out.

BCS Bowls

 * Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State (BCS #2 Big Ten Champ) 31, Miami (BCS #1 Big East Champ) 24 (2 OT)
 * Sugar Bowl: Georgia (SEC Champ) 26, Florida State (ACC Champ) 13
 * Orange Bowl: USC (BCS #4) 38, Iowa (At-Large) 17
 * Rose Bowl: Oklahoma (Big 12 Champ) 34, Washington State (Pac-10 Champ) 14

Other New Years Day Bowls

 * Cotton Bowl Classic: Texas 35, LSU 20
 * Auburn 13, Penn State 9
 * 28, Notre Dame 6
 * Outback Bowl: Michigan 38, Florida 30

December Bowl Games

 * Holiday Bowl: Kansas State 34, 27
 * Peach Bowl: Maryland 30, Tennessee 3
 * Tangerine Bowl: Texas Tech 55, 15
 * Sun Bowl: Purdue 34, Washington 24
 * 27, Nebraska 23
 * Alamo Bowl: Wisconsin 31, 28
 * Insight Bowl: Pittsburgh 38, 13
 * (C-USA Champ) 25, (MWC Champ) 3
 * Humanitarian Bowl: Boise State (WAC Champ) 34, Iowa State 16
 * 51, (MAC Champ) 25
 * Hawai'i Bowl: Tulane 36, Hawai'i 28
 * Seattle Bowl: Wake Forest 38, Oregon 17
 * San Francisco Bowl: 20,  13
 * Music City Bowl: Minnesota 29, Arkansas 14
 * Las Vegas Bowl: 27,  13
 * GMAC Bowl: Marshall 38, 15
 * 30, 21
 * Houston Bowl: Oklahoma State 33, 23
 * Virginia 48, West Virginia 22
 * New Orleans Bowl: (Sun Belt Champ) 25,  19

Heisman Trophy Voting
''The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award is given to the

Most Outstanding Player of the year'' Winner: Carson Palmer (Sr.), QB, USC (1,328 points)
 * 2. Brad Banks (Sr.), QB, Iowa (1,095 points)
 * 3. Larry Johnson (Sr.), RB, Penn State (726 points)
 * 4. Willis McGahee (So.), RB, Miami (660 points)
 * 5. Ken Dorsey (Sr.), QB, Miami (643 points)

Other Major Awards

 * Maxwell Award (College player of the Year): Larry Johnson, Penn State
 * Walter Camp Award (top back): Larry Johnson, Penn State
 * Associated Press Player Of the Year: Brad Banks, Iowa
 * Davey O'Brien Award (quarterback): Brad Banks, Iowa
 * Johnny Unitas Award (Sr. quarterback): Carson Palmer, USC
 * Doak Walker Award (running back): Larry Johnson, Penn State
 * Fred Biletnikoff Award (wide receiver): Charles Rogers, Michigan State
 * John Mackey Award (tight end): Dallas Clark, Iowa
 * Dave Rimington Trophy (center): Brett Romberg, Miami
 * Chuck Bednarik Award (defensive player): E. J. Henderson, Maryland
 * Lombardi Award (top lineman): Terrell Suggs, Arizona State
 * Outland Trophy (interior lineman): Rien Long, Washington State
 * Dick Butkus (linebacker): E. J. Henderson, Maryland
 * Jim Thorpe Award (defensive back): Terence Newman, Kansas State
 * Lou Groza Award (placekicker): Nate Kaeding, Iowa
 * Ray Guy Award (punter): Mark Mariscal, Colorado
 * The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award: Ty Willingham, Notre Dame
 * Paul "Bear" Bryant Award: Jim Tressel, Ohio St.