The 2002 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their sixth year under head coach Glen Mason, the Golden Gophers compiled an overall record of 8–5 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, placing seventh in the Big Ten and outscored opponents 376 to 319. Minnesota was invited to the Music City Bowl, where the Golden Gophers defeated Arkansas. The team played home games at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis.
Redshirt freshman defensive end Brandon Hall was shot and killed on September 1, 2002 in downtown Minneapolis after a fight that involved teammates and other individuals. Hall's killer was convicted in his murder.
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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August 31 | 6:00 pm | SW Texas State* | | | | W 42–0 | 32,209 |
September 7 | 7:00 pm | at Louisiana–Lafayette* | | | ESPN Plus | W 35–11 | 20,512 |
September 14 | 1:30 pm | Toledo* | | - Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
- Minneapolis, MN
| | W 31–21 | 36,640 |
September 21 | 1:30 pm | Buffalo* | | - Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
- Minneapolis, MN
| | W 42–17 | 34,294 |
September 28 | 5:00 pm | at Purdue | | | ESPN2 | L 15–28 | 56,839 |
October 3 | 7:00 pm | Illinois | | - Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
- Minneapolis, MN
| ESPN2 | W 31–10 | 32,663 |
October 10 | 7:00 pm | Northwestern | | - Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
- Minneapolis, MN
| | W 45–42 | 37,729 |
October 19 | 11:00 am | at Michigan State | | | ESPN Plus | W 28–7 | 74,232 |
November 2 | 2:30 pm | at No. 6 Ohio State | No. 23 | | ABC | L 3–34 | 104,897 |
November 9 | 6:45 pm | No. 13 Michigan | | | ESPN | L 24–41 | 53,773 |
November 16 | 11:00 am | No. 6 Iowa | | - Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
- Minneapolis, MN (rivalry)
| ESPN | L 21–45 | 65,184 |
November 23 | 11:00 am | at Wisconsin | | | ESPN | L 31–49 | 78,843 |
December 30 | 1:00 pm | vs. No. 25 Arkansas* | | | ESPN | W 29–14 | 39,183 |
- *Non-conference game
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Central time
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Roster
2002 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team roster
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Players
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Coaches
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Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
Roster
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Team players in the NFL
References
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Venues | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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National championship seasons in bold |