The participants of the Championship Game were the finalists of the 2002 I-AA Playoffs, which began with a 16-team bracket.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Western Kentucky started their season with a loss to Kansas State of Division I-A, and the team was 2–3 after their first five games. They then won six games in a row, to finish their regular season with an 8–3 record (7–1 in conference). Unseeded in the playoffs, the Hilltoppers defeated Murray State, second-seed Western Illinois, and third-seed Georgia Southern to reach the final. This was the first appearance for Western Kentucky in a Division I-AA championship game.
McNeese State Cowboys
McNeese State finished their regular season with a 9–1 record (6–0 in conference); their only loss was to Nebraska of Division I-A.[3] The Cowboys, seeded first in the tournament, defeated Montana State, Montana, and Villanova to reach the final. This was the second appearance for McNeese State in a Division I-AA championship game, having lost in 1997.
^ abcd"Western Kentucky University Football Box Score". Western Kentucky University. December 20, 2002. Retrieved February 3, 2019 – via sidearmsports.com.
^ ab"Western Kentucky Vs Mcneese State 2002". June 11, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2019 – via YouTube.
^"McNeese St Cowboys, 2002 Schedule". cfbinfo.com. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
^ ab"NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs (box score)". Los Angeles Times. December 21, 2002. p. D12. Retrieved February 3, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
Further reading
"Western Kentucky Wins I-AA Title". The New York Times. AP. December 21, 2002. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
"HILLTOPPERS WIN FIRST DIVISION I-AA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP!". wkusports.com. December 20, 2002. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
"Division I-AA Poll". Missoulian. Missoula, Montana. The Sports Network. November 26, 2002. p. D4. Retrieved February 5, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
External links
Western Kentucky Vs Mcneese State 2002 via YouTube