The 2002 NCAA Division III football season, part of the college football season organized by the NCAA at the Division III level in the United States, began in August 2002, and concluded with the NCAA Division III Football Championship, also known as the Stagg Bowl, in December 2002 at Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia. The Mount Union Purple Raiders won their seventh, and third consecutive, Division III championship by defeating the Trinity (TX) Tigers, 48−7.

The Gagliardi Trophy, given to the most outstanding player in Division III football, was awarded to Dan Pugh, running back from Mount Union.^[1]

Conference changes and new programs

Name changes

• Before the start of the season, Western Maryland College changed its name to McDaniel College. Its football program thus changed from the Western Maryland Green Terror to the McDaniel Green Terror. The team remained a member of the Centennial Conference.

Conference standings