# 2002 Sugar Bowl

The 2002 Sugar Bowl, a 2001–02 BCS game, was played on January 1, 2002. This 68th edition to the Sugar Bowl featured the Illinois Fighting Illini, and the LSU Tigers. Illinois came into the game 10–1, and ranked 8th in the BCS, whereas LSU came into the game 9–3, and ranked 13th in the BCS. Sponsored by Nokia, the game was officially known as the Nokia Sugar Bowl.

## Teams

The Sugar Bowl during the BCS era usually selected the SEC champion, meaning that the winner of the SEC in 2001, LSU received an invitation to the Sugar Bowl. Their opponent would be Big Ten champion Illinois.

### Illinois Fighting Illini

Illinois won the Big Ten title and earn a BCS berth as their conference's champion. The Big Ten's champion usually gets an invitation to the Rose Bowl, however the 2002 Rose Bowl was the designated BCS National Championship Game for 2001. This meant the Fighting Illini would get an at-large berth to another BCS bowl, which in turn was the Sugar Bowl. Illinois entered the bowl with a 10–1 record (7–1 in conference).

### LSU Tigers

LSU defeated Tennessee in the 2001 SEC Championship Game to earn a berth in the Sugar Bowl as their conference's champion. LSU entered the bowl with a 9–3 record (5–3 in conference).

## Game summary

Domanick Davis started the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run to open up a 7–0 LSU lead. In the second quarter, he posted touchdown runs of 25 and 16 yards, as LSU opened a 21–0 lead. Quarterback Rohan Davey found wide receiver Josh Reed in the end zone for a 28–0 lead. Quarterback Kittner threw a touchdown pass to Hodges to close the deficit to 28–7. Rohan Davey added another touchdown pass before the half to open a 34–7 half-time lead.
Illinois tried to rally but were too far behind, and LSU ended up winning 47–34. Davey and Josh Reed would play in their final game together. Davey would graduate and Reed would forgo his senior season to play in the NFL at Buffalo.

### Scoring summary

Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | ILL | LSU |
| 1 | 7:22 | 7 | 43 | 3:03 | LSU | Domanick Davis 4-yard touchdown run, John Corbello kick good | 0 | 7 |
| 2 | 13:29 | 3 | 36 | 1:08 | LSU | Domanick Davis 25-yard touchdown run, John Corbello kick no good (blocked) | 0 | 13 |
| 2 | 10:23 | 6 | 69 | 1:31 | LSU | Domanick Davis 16-yard touchdown run, John Corbello kick good | 0 | 20 |
| 2 | 4:42 | 3 | 5 | 0:54 | LSU | Josh Reed 5-yard touchdown reception from Rohan Davey, John Corbello kick good | 0 | 27 |
| 2 | 3:47 | 3 | 75 | 0:55 | ILL | Brian Hodges 2-yard touchdown reception from Kurt Kittner, Peter Christofilakos kick good | 7 | 27 |
| 2 | 0:18 | 10 | 73 | 3:29 | LSU | Robert Royal 6-yard touchdown reception from Rohan Davey, John Corbello kick good | 7 | 34 |
| 3 | 10:35 | 4 | 70 | 1:54 | ILL | Brandon Lloyd 17-yard touchdown reception from Kurt Kittner, Peter Christofilakos kick good | 14 | 34 |
| 3 | 9:29 | 3 | 67 | 1:06 | LSU | Josh Reed 32-yard touchdown reception from Rohan Davey, John Corbello kick good | 14 | 41 |
| 3 | 7:20 | 7 | 78 | 2:09 | ILL | Brandon Lloyd 10-yard touchdown reception from Kurt Kittner, Peter Christofilakos kick good | 21 | 41 |
| 4 | 11:33 | 6 | 54 | 1:23 | ILL | Walter Young 17-yard touchdown reception from Kurt Kittner, Peter Christofilakos kick good | 28 | 41 |
| 4 | 8:39 | 6 | 64 | 2:54 | LSU | Domanick Davis 4-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass intercepted | 28 | 47 |
| 4 | 5:41 | 1 | 40 | 0:12 | ILL | Walter Young 40-yard touchdown reception from Kurt Kittner, 2-point pass incomplete | 34 | 47 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 34 | 47 |

### Statistics

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 8 Fighting Illini | 0 | 7 | 14 | 13 | 34 |
| No. 13 Tigers | 7 | 27 | 7 | 6 | 47 |
| Statistics | ILL | LSU |
| First downs | 14 | 32 |
| Plays–yards | 57–363 | 97–595 |
| Rushes–yards | 21–61 | 44–151 |
| Passing yards | 302 | 444 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 15–36–1 | 31–53–0 |
| Time of possession | 20:44 | 39:16 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Illinois | Passing | Kurt Kittner | 14/35, 262 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT |
| Illinois | Rushing | Rocky Harvey | 9 car, 42 yds |
| Illinois | Receiving | Walter Young | 6 rec, 178 yds, 2 TD |
| LSU | Passing | Rohan Davey | 33/53, 444 yds, 3 TD |
| LSU | Rushing | Domanick Davis | 28 car, 122 yds, 4 TD |
| LSU | Receiving | Josh Reed | 14 rec, 239 yds, 2 TD |