2002 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

2002 Alabama Crimson Tide football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionWestern Division
Ranking
APNo. 11
Record10–3 (6–2 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorLes Koenning (2nd season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorCarl Torbush (2nd season)
Base defense4–3
Captains
Home stadiumBryant–Denny Stadium
Legion Field
2002 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Eastern Division
No. 3 Georgia x$   7 1     13 1  
Florida   6 2     8 5  
Tennessee   5 3     8 5  
Kentucky   3 5     7 5  
South Carolina   3 5     5 7  
Vanderbilt   0 8     2 10  
Western Division
Arkansas xy   5 3     9 5  
No. 14 Auburn x   5 3     9 4  
LSU x   5 3     8 5  
Ole Miss   3 5     7 6  
Mississippi State   0 8     3 9  
No. 11 ^Alabama   6 2     10 3  
Championship: Georgia 30, Arkansas 3
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – Alabama had the best division record, but did not participate in postseason play due to NCAA probation.
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2002 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by Dennis Franchione in his second and final season as head coach, the Crimson Tide compiled an overall record of 10–3 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, placing first in the SEC's Western Division. However, Alabama was ineligible to compete in the 2002 SEC Championship Game or a bowl game due to a two-year postseason ban imposed as part of the penalty for National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) violations. The team played home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.

Alabama began the season with a 4–1 record, only losing a close game at No. 8 Oklahoma. On October 5, the Crimson Tide lost another hard-fought game to the No. 4 Georgia, 27–25, at home. The team then defeated their next five opponents by an average of 24.4 points. In the Iron Bowl, Alabama lost to Auburn Tigers by a score of 17–7. The Crimson Tide ended their season with a win over Hawaii.

On December 5, Franchione left Alabama to take the head football coaching job at Texas A&M University, which was left vacant by the firing of R. C. Slocum.