| Year: | 2002 |
| Team: | McNeese State Cowboys |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southland Football League |
| Short Conf: | Southland |
| Tsnrank: | 2 |
| Record: | 13–2 |
| Conf Record: | 6–0 |
| Head Coach: | Tommy Tate |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Off Coach: | Matt Viator |
| Oc Year: | 3rd |
| Def Coach: | Lance Guidry |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Stadium: | Cowboy Stadium |
| Champion: | Southland champion |
| Bowl: | NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game |
| Bowl Result: | L 14–34 vs. Western Kentucky |
The 2002 McNeese State Cowboys football team represented McNeese State University as a member of the Southland Football League during the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by third-year head coach Tommy Tate, the Cowboys compiled an overall record of 13–2 with a mark of 6–0 in conference play, winning the Southland title. McNeese State advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, beating Montana State in the first round, Montana in the quarterfinals, and Villanova in the semifinals, before losing to Western Kentucky in the NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game. The team played home games at Cowboy Stadium in Lake Charles, Louisiana.