| Sport: | football |
| Year: | 2002 |
| Team: | Nebraska Cornhuskers |
| Conference: | Big 12 Conference |
| Division: | North Division |
| Short Conf: | Big 12 |
| Record: | 7–7 |
| Conf Record: | 3–5 |
| Head Coach: | Frank Solich |
| Hc Year: | 5th |
| Def Coach: | Craig Bohl |
| Dc Year: | 3rd |
| Off Scheme: | I formation |
| Def Scheme: | 4–3 |
| Stadium: | Memorial Stadium |
| Bowl: | Independence Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | L 23 - 27 vs. Ole Miss |
The 2002 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Frank Solich and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska finished in 4th place in the Big 12 North Division and tied for 8th conference - wide, with a final record of 7 - 7 (3 - 5). With their loss to Ole Miss in the Independence Bowl, the Huskers streak of 40 straight winning seasons came to an end. Earlier, a loss to Iowa State knocked the Huskers out of the AP Poll for the first time since October 11, 1981. The run of 348 consecutive weeks in the rankings was the longest in college football history.
This was the first week Nebraska was not featured in the AP Poll since their 59-0 defeat of Colorado on October 10, 1981.
Nebraska's first loss against Oklahoma State since 1961.
See also: 2002 NCAA Division I-A football rankings.
Nebraska finished in 4th place in the Big 12 North Division and tied for 8th conference-wide, with a final record of 7-7 (3-5).
| Award | Name(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| All-America 1st team | DeJuan Groce, Richie Incognito | |
| All-America 2nd team | Fabian Washington | |
| All-America 4th team | David Horne | |
| All-Big 12 1st team | Josh Brown, DeJuan Groce, Richie Incognito | |
| All-Big 12 2nd team | John Garrison, Chris Kelsay, Kyle Larson | |
| All-Big 12 3rd team | Dahrran Diedrick | |
| Freshman All-Big 12 1st team | Matt Herian, David Horne, Richie Incognito, Ross Pilkington, Le Kevin Smith, Fabian Washington |
The following Nebraska players who participated in the 2002 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents.[3]