2002 NCAA Division I-A football rankings AP poll AP poll

| Preseason | Week_1_Aug_26 | Week_2_Sept_2 | Week_3_Sept_8 | Week_4_Sept_15 | Week_5_Sept_22 | Week_6_Sept_29 | Week_7_Oct_6 | Week_8_Oct_13 | Week_9_Oct_20 | Week_10_Oct_27 | Week_11_Nov_3 | Week_12_Nov_10 | Week_13_Nov_17 | Week_14_Nov_24 | Week_15_Dec_1 | Week_16_Dec_8 | Week_17_Final_Jan_4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | Louisville (0-0) | Colorado (0-1) | USC (1-0) | NC State (4-0) | NC State (5-0) | Washington State (4-1) | Iowa (5-1) | Kansas State (5-1) | Iowa State (6-2) | LSU (6-2) | Florida State (6-3) | Colorado (7-3) | Pittsburgh (8-2) | Pittsburgh (8-3) | NC State (10-3) | NC State (10-3) | Notre Dame (10-3) |
| Michigan State | Michigan State (0-0) | USC (0-0) | Colorado (1-1) | Nebraska (3-1) | USC (2-1) | USC (3-1) | LSU (4-1) | Air Force (6-0) | Penn State (5-2) | Florida State (5-3) | Colorado (6-3) | Pittsburgh (8-2) | Maryland (9-2) | LSU (8-3) | Virginia Tech (9-3) | Boise State (11-1) | Virginia Tech (9-4) |
| Marshall | Marshall (0-0) | Colorado State (2-0) | NC State (3-0) | Texas A&M (2-0) | Iowa State (4-1) | Wisconsin (5-0) | Kansas State (4-1) | USC (4-2) | Alabama (5-2) | Oregon (6-2) | Penn State (6-3) | Maryland (8-2) | Florida (8-3) | Boise State (11-1) | Boise State (11-1) | Auburn (8-4) | Pittsburgh (9-4) |