| Year: | 2002 |
| Team: | Kentucky Wildcats |
| Conference: | Southeastern Conference |
| Division: | Eastern Division |
| Short Conf: | SEC |
| Record: | 7 - 5 |
| Conf Record: | 3 - 5 |
| Hc Year: | 2nd |
| Oc Year: | 2nd |
| Dc Year: | 2nd |
| Stadium: | Commonwealth Stadium |
The 2002 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Wildcats scored 385 points while allowing 301 points.[1]
Though finishing with a 7 - 5 record, the Wildcats were not bowl eligible due to NCAA sanctions resulting from the tenure of former head coach Hal Mumme.
Kentucky opened with a 22 - 17 win at #17 Louisville, a nationally broadcast upset at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in which Kentucky reclaimed the Governor's Cup. A 77 - 17 win over UTEP followed (the second largest point total in school history at the time), and wins against Indiana and Middle Tennessee State put Kentucky at 4 - 0. A 41 - 34 loss at #7 Florida was followed by a 16 - 12 loss to South Carolina that came down to the final play. A 29 - 17 win at Arkansas followed. A 52 - 24 loss to #5 Georgia was followed by a 45 - 24 win at Mississippi State. A 33 - 30 loss to #16 LSU on the game's final play was followed by a 41 - 21 win against Vanderbilt and a 24 - 0 loss at Tennessee.[2] [3]
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL club |
| Dewayne Robertson | Defensive tackle | 1 | 4 | New York Jets |
| Artose Pinner | Running back | 4 | 99 | Detroit Lions |