2001–02 NCAA football bowl games
The 2001–02 NCAA football bowl games concluded the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Miami Hurricanes won the BCS National Championship Game over the Nebraska Cornhuskers, 37–14.
A total of 25 team-competitive games were played—starting on December 18, 2001, and ending on January 3, 2002—with participation by 50 bowl-eligible teams. North Texas entered the New Orleans Bowl with a losing record of 5–6; they were able to play in a bowl game by being co-champions of the Sun Belt Conference, having compiled a 5–1 conference record. An additional five all-star games were played, ending with the Hula Bowl on February 2, 2002. One bowl game was established for the 2001–02 season, the New Orleans Bowl. The number of bowl games remained static from the previous season due to the dissolution of the Aloha Bowl after 19 seasons.
Poll rankings
The below table lists top teams, their win-loss records, and the bowls they later played in. The AP column represents rankings per the AP Poll, while the BCS column represents the Bowl Championship Series rankings.AP | BCS | Team | W–L | Bowl |
1 | 1 | Miami Hurricanes | 11–0 | Rose Bowl |
2 | 4 | Oregon Ducks | 10–1 | Fiesta Bowl |
3 | 3 | Colorado Buffaloes | 10–2 | Fiesta Bowl |
4 | 2 | Nebraska Cornhuskers | 11–1 | Rose Bowl |
5 | 5 | Florida Gators | 9–2 | Orange Bowl |
6 | 10 | Maryland Terrapins | 10–1 | Orange Bowl |
7 | 8 | Illinois Fighting Illini | 10–1 | Sugar Bowl |
8 | 6 | Tennessee Volunteers | 10–2 | Florida Citrus Bowl |
9 | 7 | Texas Longhorns | 10–2 | Holiday Bowl |
10 | 11 | Oklahoma Sooners | 10–2 | Cotton Bowl Classic |
11 | 9 | Stanford Cardinal | 9–2 | Seattle Bowl |
12 | 13 | LSU Tigers | 9–3 | Sugar Bowl |
13 | 12 | Washington State Cougars | 9–2 | Sun Bowl |
14 | 14 | South Carolina Gamecocks | 8–3 | Outback Bowl |
15 | — | Virginia Tech Hokies | 8–3 | Gator Bowl |
16 | — | Georgia Bulldogs | 8–3 | Music City Bowl |
17 | — | Michigan Wolverines | 8–3 | Florida Citrus Bowl |
18 | — | Syracuse Orangemen | 9–3 | Insight.com Bowl |
19 | — | BYU Cougars | 12–1 | Liberty Bowl |
20 | — | Fresno State Bulldogs | 11–2 | Silicon Valley Football Classic |
21 | 15 | Washington Huskies | 8–3 | Holiday Bowl |
22 | — | Ohio State Buckeyes | 7–4 | Outback Bowl |
23 | — | Louisville Cardinals | 10–2 | Liberty Bowl |
24 | — | Florida State Seminoles | 7–4 | Gator Bowl |
25 | — | Toledo Rockets | 9–2 | Motor City Bowl |
denotes a BCS bowl game
Non-BCS bowls
All times are in Eastern Time.BCS bowls
All-star games
;Senior Bowl- Game MVP: Antwaan Randle El
- Other notable players: David Carr, Ryan Sims, Patrick Ramsey, LeCharles Bentley, Javon Walker
- North coach: Mike Holmgren
- South coach: Dave McGinnis