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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington State | Washington (0-0) | Washington State (1-0) | Virginia Tech (2-0) | USC (2-0) | Tennessee (2-1) | Florida State (4-1) | Iowa State (5-1) | Michigan (5-1) | Florida State (5-2) | USC (6-2) | Alabama (7-2) | Kansas State (8-2) | Texas (9-2) | Penn State (9-3) | Notre Dame (10-2) | Notre Dame (10-2) | Alabama (10-3) |
| Michigan | Washington State (0-0) | Virginia Tech (2-0) | Florida (1-1) | Notre Dame (3-0) | Penn State (3-0) | Washington (3-1) | Washington State (5-1) | Florida State (5-2) | NC State (8-0) | Alabama (6-2) | Kansas State (7-2) | Michigan (8-2) | Michigan (9-2) | Michigan (9-3) | Colorado (9-3) | Michigan (9-3) | NC State (11-3) |
| Ohio State | Michigan (0-0) | Oregon (1-0) | Oregon (2-0) | Washington (1-1) | Washington (2-1) | Kansas State (4-0) | Michigan (4-1) | NC State (7-0) | Iowa (7-1) | Colorado (6-2) | Michigan (7-2) | Virginia Tech (8-2) | Virginia Tech (8-2) | Colorado (8-3) | Michigan (9-3) | Alabama (10-3) | Maryland (11-3) |