The 2002 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was led by second-year head coach Guy Morriss and played home games at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky. The Wildcats scored 385 points while allowing 301 points.
Though finishing with a 7âÂÂ5 record, the Wildcats were not bowl eligible due to NCAA sanctions resulting from the tenure of former head coach Hal Mumme.
Kentucky opened with a 22âÂÂ17 win at no. 17 Louisville, a nationally broadcast upset at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in which Kentucky reclaimed the Governor's Cup. A 77âÂÂ17 win over UTEP followed (the second largest point total in school history at the time), and wins against Indiana and Middle Tennessee State put Kentucky at 4âÂÂ0. A 41âÂÂ34 loss at no. 7 Florida was followed by a 16âÂÂ12 loss to South Carolina that came down to the final play. A 29âÂÂ17 win at Arkansas followed. A 52âÂÂ24 loss to no. 5 Georgia was followed by a 45âÂÂ24 win at Mississippi State. A 33âÂÂ30 loss to no. 16 LSU on the game's final play was followed by a 41âÂÂ21 win against Vanderbilt and a 24âÂÂ0 loss at Tennessee.
Morriss resigned following the season to accept the head coaching position at Baylor.