2002 NCAA Division II football rankings

The 2002 NCAA Division II football rankings are from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). This is for the 2002 season.

Legend

		Increase in ranking
		Decrease in ranking
		Not ranked previous week
(#–#)		Win–loss record
(Italics)		Number of first place votes
т		Tied with team above or below also with this symbol

American Football Coaches Association poll

	Preseason [note 1]	Week 1 Sept 3 [1]	Week 2 Sept 10 [2]	Week 3 Sept 17 [3]	Week 4 Sept 24 [4]	Week 5 Oct 1 [5]	Week 6 Oct 8 [6]	Week 7 Oct 15 [7]	Week 8 Oct 22 [8]	Week 9 Oct 29 [9]	Week 10 Nov 5 [10]	Week 11 Nov 12 [11]
1.	Grand Valley State	Grand Valley State (0–0) (21)	Grand Valley State (1–0) (27)	Grand Valley State (1–0) (27)	Grand Valley State (2–0) (26)	Grand Valley State (3–0) (26)	Grand Valley State (4–0) (26)	Grand Valley State (5–0) (27)	Grand Valley State (6–0) (27)	Grand Valley State (7–0) (27)	Grand Valley State (8–0) (27)	Grand Valley State (9–0) (26)	1.
2.	North Dakota	North Dakota (1–0) (6)	Valdosta State (2–0)	Valdosta State (2–0)	Valdosta State (3–0)	Valdosta State (4–0)	Valdosta State (5–0)	Valdosta State (6–0)	Valdosta State (7–0)	Valdosta State (8–0)	Valdosta State (9–0)	Valdosta State (10–0) (1)	2.
3.	Valdosta State	Valdosta State (1–0)	Pittsburg State (1–0)	Pittsburg State (2–0)	Pittsburg State (3–0)	Pittsburg State (4–0)	Pittsburg State (5–0)	Saginaw Valley State (6–0)	Carson–Newman (7–0)	Carson–Newman (8–0)	Carson–Newman (9–0)	Carson–Newman (10–0)	3.
4.	Pittsburg State	Pittsburg State (1–0)	Saginaw Valley State (1–0)	Saginaw Valley State (2–0)	Saginaw Valley State (3–0)	Saginaw Valley State (4–0)	Saginaw Valley State (5–0)	Carson–Newman (6–0)	Northwest Missouri State (7–0)	Northwest Missouri State (8–0)	Northwest Missouri State (9–0)	Northwest Missouri State (10–0)	4.
5.	Texas A&M–Kingsville	Texas A&M–Kingsville (0–0)	Carson–Newman (2–0)	Carson–Newman (3–0)	Carson–Newman (4–0)	Carson–Newman (4–0)	Carson–Newman (5–0)	Northwest Missouri State (6–0)	UC Davis (5–1)	UC Davis (6–1)	UC Davis (7–1)	Central Washington (11–0)	5.
6.	UC Davis	UC Davis (0–0)	Tarleton State (2–0)	Tarleton State (3–0)	Tarleton State (4–0)	Northwest Missouri State (4–0)	Northwest Missouri State (5–0)	UC Davis (4–1)	Central Missouri (7–0)	Central Missouri (8–0)	Central Washington (10–0)	IUP (10–1)	6.
7.	IUP [note 2]	Carson–Newman (1–0)	Tuskegee (2–0)	Northwest Missouri State (2–0)	Northwest Missouri State (3–0)	Central Arkansas (4–0)	Central Arkansas (5–0)	Texas A&M–Kingsville (4–1)	Texas A&M–Kingsville (5–1)	Central Washington (9–0)	IUP (9–1)	Northern Colorado (9–1)	7.
8.	Carson–Newman	Saginaw Valley State (0–0)	Catawba (1–0)	Tuskegee (3–0)	Tuskegee (4–0) (1)	Tuskegee (4–0) (1)	Tuskegee (4–1) (1)	Central Missouri (6–0)	Central Washington (8–0)	Texas A&M–Kingsville (6–1)	Northern Colorado (8–1)	Central Missouri (9–1)	8.
9.	Saginaw Valley State	Bloomsburg (0–0)	Northwest Missouri State (1–0)	Central Arkansas (2–0)	Central Arkansas (3–0)	UC Davis (3–1)	UC Davis (3–1)	Central Washington (7–0)	Saginaw Valley State (6–1)	IUP (8–1)	Catawba (7–1)	Tuskegee (9–1)	9.
10.	Bloomsburg	Tarleton State (1–0)	Chadron State (1–0)	UC Davis (1–1)	UC Davis (2–1)	Texas A&M–Kingsville (2–1)	Texas A&M–Kingsville (5–0)	IUP (6–1)	IUP (7–1)	Catawba (6–1)	Tuskegee (8–1)	C.W. Post (10–0)	10.
11.	Nebraska–Omaha	Tuskegee (1–0)	UC Davis (0–1)	Nebraska–Kearney (2–0)	Tusculum (4–0)	Tusculum (4–0)	Tusculum (5–0)	Pittsburg State (5–1)	Tarleton State (6–1)	Northern Colorado (7–1)	Central Missouri (8–1)	Minnesota–Duluth (10–0)	11.
12.	Tarleton State	Catawba (0–0)	Central Arkansas (1–0)	Texas A&M–Kingsville (1–1)	Texas A&M–Kingsville (1–1)	Central Missouri (4–0)	Central Missouri (6–0)	Tarleton State (5–1)	Catawba (5–1)	Tuskegee (7–1)	C.W. Post (9–0)	Nebraska–Kearney (9–1)	12.
13.	Tuskegee	Chadron State (0–0)	Nebraska–Kearney (2–0)	Tusculum (3–0)	Central Missouri (3–0)	IUP (4–1)	Central Washington (5–1)	Catawba (4–1)	Northern Colorado (6–1)	C.W. Post (8–0)	Nebraska–Kearney (8–1)	Pittsburg State (8–2)	13.
14.	Chadron State	Northwest Missouri State (0–0)	Texas A&M–Kingsville (0–1)	Central Missouri (2–0)	IUP (3–1)	Central Washington (5–0)	IUP (4–0)	Central Arkansas (5–1)	C.W. Post (7–0)	Nebraska–Kearney (7–1)	Minnesota–Duluth (9–0)	UC Davis (7–2)	14.
15.	Catawba	Central Arkansas (0–0)	Tusculum (2–0)	IUP (2–1)	Western Washington (2–0)	Western Washington (3–0)	Western Washington (5–1)	C.W. Post (6–0)	Tuskegee (6–1)	Minnesota–Duluth (8–0)	Pittsburg State (7–2)	Saginaw Valley State (8–2)	15.
16.	Northwest Missouri State	Nebraska–Kearney (1–0)	Central Missouri (1–0)	North Dakota (2–1)	Central Washington (4–0)	C.W. Post (4–0)	Tarleton State (5–1)	Northern Colorado (5–1)	Nebraska–Kearney (6–1)	Emporia State (7–1)	Saginaw Valley State (7–2)	Fayetteville State (9–1)	16.
17.	Central Arkansas	Tusculum (1–0)	C.W. Post (1–0)	Western Washington (2–0)	C.W. Post (3–0)	Catawba (2–1)	Catawba (3–1)	Tuskegee (5–1)	Tusculum (6–1)	Pittsburg State (6–2)	Tarleton State (6–2)	Tarleton State (7–2)	17.
18.		Central Missouri (1–0)	IUP (1–1)	C.W. Post (2–0)	Catawba (2–1)	Tarleton State (4–1)	C.W. Post (5–0)	Harding (6–0)	Minnesota–Duluth (7–0)	Saginaw Valley State (6–2)	Fayetteville State (8–1)	Catawba (7–2)	18.
19.		C.W. Post (0–0)	North Dakota (1–1)	Catawba (1–1)	Northern Colorado (2–1)	Northern Colorado (3–1)	Northern Colorado (4–1)	Chadron State (5–1)	East Stroudsburg (5–1)	Harding (7–1)	Texas A&M–Kingsville (6–2)	Findlay (9–1)	19.
20.	C.W. Post	Shepherd (0–0)	Western Washington (1–0)	Central Washington (3–0)	Bloomsburg (2–1)	Bloomsburg (3–1)	Findlay (5–0)	Nebraska–Kearney (5–1)	Pittsburg State (5–2)	Tarleton State (6–2)	Findlay (8–1)	Texas A&M–Kingsville (7–2)	20.
21.	Tusculum	Fort Valley State (1–0)	Shepherd (1–0)	Shepherd (2–0)	Chadron State (2–1)	Chadron State (3–1)	Chadron State (4–1)	Tusculum (5–1)	St. Cloud State (6–1)	Fayetteville State (7–1)	Bentley (9–0)	St. Cloud State (8–2)	21.
22.	Shepherd	IUP (0–1)	Central Washington (2–0)	Missouri Western State (2–0)	Nebraska–Kearney (2–1)	Findlay (4–0)	Harding (5–0)	East Stroudsburg (5–1)	Emporia State (6–1)	Bentley (8–0)	Chadron State (7–2)	Chadron State (7–2)	22.
23.	Central Missouri	Nebraska–Omaha (0–1)	Northern Colorado (1–0)	Bloomsburg (1–1)	Findlay (3–0)	Nebraska–Kearney (3–1)	Nebraska–Kearney (4–1)	Western Washington (4–1)	Central Arkansas (5–2)	Findlay (7–1)	Emporia State (7–2)	Emporia State (8–2)	23.
24.	Fort Valley State	Western Washington (0–0)	Bloomsburg (0–1)	Chadron State (1–1)	Harding (3–0)	Harding (4–0)	East Stroudsburg (4–1)	Minnesota–Duluth (6–0)	Harding (6–1)	Tusculum (6–2)	Southern Arkansas (7–2)	Bentley (9–1)	24.
25.	Nebraska–Kearney	Northern Colorado (0–0)	Missouri Western State (2–0)	Northern Colorado (1–1)	Fort Valley State (3–1)	Eastern New Mexico (4–0)	St. Cloud State (5–0)	North Dakota (4–2)	Bentley (7–0) т	Chadron State (6–2)	St. Cloud State (7–2)	Eastern New Mexico (8–2)	25.
26.									Fayetteville State (6–1) т				26.
	Preseason [note 3]	Week 1 Sept 3 [12]	Week 2 Sept 10 [13]	Week 3 Sept 17 [14]	Week 4 Sept 24 [15]	Week 5 Oct 1 [16]	Week 6 Oct 8 [17]	Week 7 Oct 15 [18]	Week 8 Oct 22 [19]	Week 9 Oct 29 [20]	Week 10 Nov 5 [21]	Week 11 Nov 12 [22]
		Dropped: 18 19	Dropped: 21 Fort Valley State 23 Nebraska–Omaha	None	Dropped: 16 North Dakota 21 Shepherd 22 Missouri Western State	Dropped: 25 Fort Valley State	Dropped: 20 Bloomsburg 25 Eastern New Mexico	Dropped: 20 Findlay 25 St. Cloud State	Dropped: 19 Chadron State 23 Western Washington 25 North Dakota	Dropped: 19 East Stroudsburg 21 St. Cloud State 23 Central Arkansas	Dropped: 19 Harding 24 Tusculum	Dropped: 24 Southern Arkansas

Notes

1. Although one was published, no preseason poll has been found. 23 of the 25 rankings are known, based on the first regular season poll.
2. In the actual printed polls, IUP was listed as Indiana (PA)
3. Although one was published, no preseason poll has been found. 23 of the 25 rankings are known, based on the first regular season poll.

References

1. "Division II Poll". St. Cloud Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. September 4, 2002. p. 2D. Retrieved June 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
2. "Division II Poll". St. Cloud Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. September 11, 2002. p. 2D. Retrieved June 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
3. "Division II Poll". St. Cloud Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. September 18, 2002. p. 2D. Retrieved June 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
4. "Division II Poll". St. Cloud Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. September 25, 2002. p. 2D. Retrieved June 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
5. "Division II Poll". St. Cloud Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. October 2, 2002. p. 2D. Retrieved June 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
6. "Division II Poll". St. Cloud Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. October 9, 2002. p. 2D. Retrieved June 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
7. "AFCA Division II poll". The Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. October 16, 2002. p. 2B. Retrieved June 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
8. "AFCA Division II poll". The Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. October 23, 2002. p. 2B. Retrieved June 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
9. "Division II Poll". St. Cloud Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. October 30, 2002. p. 2D. Retrieved June 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
10. "Division II Poll". St. Cloud Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. November 6, 2002. p. 2D. Retrieved June 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
11. "AFCA Division II Poll". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. November 13, 2002. p. C9. Retrieved June 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
12. "Division II Poll". St. Cloud Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. September 4, 2002. p. 2D. Retrieved June 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
13. "Division II Poll". St. Cloud Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. September 11, 2002. p. 2D. Retrieved June 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
14. "Division II Poll". St. Cloud Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. September 18, 2002. p. 2D. Retrieved June 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
15. "Division II Poll". St. Cloud Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. September 25, 2002. p. 2D. Retrieved June 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
16. "Division II Poll". St. Cloud Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. October 2, 2002. p. 2D. Retrieved June 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
17. "Division II Poll". St. Cloud Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. October 9, 2002. p. 2D. Retrieved June 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
18. "AFCA Division II poll". The Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. October 16, 2002. p. 2B. Retrieved June 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
19. "AFCA Division II poll". The Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. October 23, 2002. p. 2B. Retrieved June 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
20. "Division II Poll". St. Cloud Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. October 30, 2002. p. 2D. Retrieved June 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
21. "Division II Poll". St. Cloud Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. November 6, 2002. p. 2D. Retrieved June 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
22. "AFCA Division II Poll". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. November 13, 2002. p. C9. Retrieved June 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com.