What Is 2002 Kansas Jayhawks football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2002 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas during the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season, finishing with a 2–10 record under head coach Terry Allen. They played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas, and were members of the Big 12 Conference.

Key Facts

The 2002 Kansas Jayhawks finished the season with a 2–10 overall record
Head coach Terry Allen was in his fifth season leading the program
The team played home games at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas
They competed in the Big 12 Conference's North Division
Quarterback David Walker started most games, throwing for 1,844 yards and 10 touchdowns

Overview

The 2002 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas during the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. Competing as a member of the Big 12 Conference's North Division, the team struggled to find consistency under head coach Terry Allen, who was in his fifth year at the helm.

Playing their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas, the Jayhawks finished the season with a 2–10 overall record and 1–7 in conference play. Despite a few competitive performances, the team failed to qualify for a bowl game for the third consecutive season.

Record: The team finished with a 2–10 overall record, their worst since 1998, reflecting ongoing struggles in program development.
Head coach: Terry Allen led the team for the fifth straight season, compiling a 12–44 record in his tenure by the end of 2002.
Home stadium: Memorial Stadium, located in Lawrence, Kansas, has a seating capacity of over 50,000 and has been the Jayhawks’ home since 1921.
Conference: As members of the Big 12 North, the Jayhawks faced teams like Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas State during the regular season.
Offensive leader: Quarterback David Walker started 10 games, throwing for 1,844 yards and 10 touchdowns while completing 55.3% of his passes.

Performance & Season Breakdown

The 2002 season was marked by offensive inconsistency and defensive lapses, particularly in conference play. The Jayhawks opened the season with a loss to Northern Arizona but managed a win over Central Michigan in Week 2.

Season opener: Kansas lost 28–24 to Northern Arizona on August 31, 2002, a surprising setback for a Division I-A team.
Win over Central Michigan: The Jayhawks secured a 31–28 victory on September 7, marking their first win under new defensive schemes.
Big 12 struggles: Kansas lost seven of eight conference games, including a 70–22 defeat to Nebraska, one of the nation’s top-ranked teams.
Defensive performance: The team allowed an average of 38.2 points per game, ranking among the worst in the Big 12.
Rivalry game: In the annual Sunflower Showdown, Kansas lost 61–16 to in-state rival Kansas State, highlighting the program’s gap in competitiveness.
Season finale: The Jayhawks ended the season with a 34–27 loss to Missouri, finishing 2–10 and last in the Big 12 North.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 2002 Jayhawks to recent seasons reveals a program in transition with limited success.

Season	Overall Record	Conference Record	Bowl Game	Head Coach
2002	2–10	1–7	No	Terry Allen
2001	6–6	3–5	Alamo Bowl	Terry Allen
2000	3–8	1–7	No	Terry Allen
1999	5–6	3–5	No	Terry Allen
1998	5–6	3–5	No	Terry Allen

The 2002 season marked a significant decline from the 6–6 record in 2001, which had earned the Jayhawks a bowl berth. The team’s inability to sustain momentum under Allen led to growing criticism and eventually his dismissal after the 2003 season. Despite efforts to rebuild the roster and defensive schemes, the Jayhawks remained near the bottom of the Big 12 standings.

Why It Matters

The 2002 season is remembered as a low point in the Jayhawks' football history, symbolizing broader challenges in program stability and recruiting.

Program trajectory: The 2–10 record underscored the difficulty Kansas faced in competing with powerhouse Big 12 programs like Oklahoma and Nebraska.
Coaching impact: Terry Allen’s tenure, which included only one winning season, raised questions about long-term leadership and strategic planning.
Recruiting challenges: Limited success on the field made it harder to attract top-tier high school talent to Lawrence.
Stadium environment: Despite a passionate fan base, Memorial Stadium often saw dwindling attendance during losing seasons like 2002.
Future improvements: The struggles of this era set the stage for later changes, including the hiring of Mark Mangino in 2002, who would later lead a turnaround.
Historical context: The 2002 season is a benchmark for measuring the program’s progress, especially after the successful 2007 season under Mangino.

While the 2002 Kansas Jayhawks did not achieve on-field success, the season played a role in prompting administrative and coaching changes that would eventually lead to a more competitive era in the late 2000s.