The2002 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented theUniversity of Alabama as a member of theSoutheastern Conference (SEC) during2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led byDennis 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 the2002 SEC Championship Game or abowl game due to a two-year postseason ban imposed as part of the penalty forNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) violations. The team played home games atBryant–Denny Stadium inTuscaloosa, Alabama, andLegion Field inBirmingham, Alabama.

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

On December 5, Franchione left Alabama to take the head football coaching job atTexas A&M University, which was left vacant by the firing ofR. C. Slocum.^[1]

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
August 31	11:30 a.m.	Middle Tennessee*		Legion Field Birmingham, AL	JPS	W 39–34	80,091
September 7	2:30 p.m.	at No. 2Oklahoma*		Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK	ABC	L 27–37	75,564
September 14	6:00 p.m.	North Texas*		Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	PPV	W 33–7	79,818
September 21	6:00 p.m.	Southern Miss*		Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	ESPN2	W 20–7	83,818	[2]
September 28	6:45 p.m.	atArkansas		Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR	ESPN	W 30–12	73,551
October 5	2:30 p.m.	No. 7Georgia	No. 22	Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry,College GameDay)	CBS	L 25–27	83,818
October 19	2:30 p.m.	No. 21Ole Miss	No. 24	Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)	CBS	W 42–7	83,818
October 26	6:45 p.m.	at No. 16Tennessee	No. 19	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN (Third Saturday in October)	ESPN	W 34–14	107,722
November 2	1:00 p.m.	atVanderbilt	No. 12	Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN	PPV	W 30–8	36,407
November 9	1:00 p.m.	Mississippi State	No. 11	Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)	PPV	W 28–14	83,818
November 16	8:00 p.m.	at No. 14LSU	No. 10	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)	ESPN	W 31–0	92,012
November 23	2:30 p.m.	Auburn	No. 9	Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (Iron Bowl)	CBS	L 7–17	83,818
November 30	6:45 p.m.	atHawaii*	No. 14	Aloha Stadium Halawa, HI	ESPN	W 21–16	50,000
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings fromAP Poll released prior to the game All times are inCentral time

^[3][4]

In the only game that Alabama would play atLegion Field in 2002, the Crimson Tide would score a season opening win for the first time since 1999.

The first road game of the year for Alabama would prove to be one of the most exciting game of the year. Despite trailing 23–3 at halftime, Alabama roared back in the second half with 24 unanswered points to take a 27–23 lead late into the 4th quarter. Oklahoma however, scored the last 14 points to win 37–27.

In the first game of the season atBryant-Denny Stadium, The Crimson Tide would go over 500 yards of offense for the first time this season and win their first non-conference game at Bryant Denny Stadium since 1999. This game also was the first time since 1986 Alabama would not sellout their game at Bryant-Denny Stadium snapping a streak of 56 straight sellouts in Tuscaloosa.

For the second straight week, Alabama would hold their opponent to under 150 yards of total offense to win their third game of the season. This would beAhmaad Galloway final game at Alabama as he would tear his ACL in the 4th quarter.

Shaud Williams would take the opening play 80 yards for a touchdown as the Crimson Tide beat Arkansas on the road for the first time since 1996.

Georgia would use a Billy Bennett 32 yard field goal to beat Alabama in the first meeting between teams since 1995.

Santonio Beard tiedShaun Alexander record of five rushing touchdowns in a game as Alabama dominated Ole Miss on Homecoming.

For the first time since 1994, Alabama beat Tennessee snapping a seven year win streak that the Vols had. To date, this was the longest streak by any opponent over the Tide.

For the second year in a row, the Crimson Tide traveled to Vanderbilt and for the 18th straight time Alabama would beat Vanderbilt. This would be the last time Alabama would play Vanderbilt until 2006 snapping a 50 consecutive seasons streak of playing.

Alabama used their offense in the first half and their defense in the second half to preserve second straight win against the Bulldogs for the first time since 1994–95. This game was not televised making it the first Alabama game since 1995 not to be on live television.

Alabama defense would record a shutout for the first time since 1997 as they defeated the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge.

Alabama would trail for the first time since the Georgia game earlier in the season as Auburn would upset Alabama to continue their undefeated mark in Iron Bowl's played in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama reached ten wins for the first time since 1999 as Alabama beat Hawaii to end the season 10–3. This would beDennis Franchione's last game as coach at Alabama; he left to be Texas A&M head coach on December 4, 2002.^[5]

• 2002 Southeastern Conference football season
• Alabama Crimson Tide football seasons
• 2002 in sports in Alabama

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