The University of Minnesota-Duluth was well represented among the leaders in the final 2002 NCAA II football statistics. As a team, the Bulldogs ranked second in scoring offense (44.9 points per game), eighth in total offense (446 yards per game), seventh in rushing defense (92.3 ypg),and 24th in passing offense (252.1 ypg). Individually, senior quarterback Ricky Fritz was second in passing efficiency (166.6) and 19th in total offense (254.6 ypg), junior Tim Battaglia was fourth among wide receivers and 12 overall inscoring (9.7 ppg) and was 14th in reception yards (97.2 ypg), senior defensive end Nate Davis was 17th in overall quarterback sacks (9.5) , sophomore linebacker Adam Skinner was 11th in forced fumbles (0.42 per game), and junior Chad Gerlach was 19th in field goals (1.0 per game) and in fourth in scoring among placekickers (8.0 ppg).

UMD finished 2002 with an 11-1 overall record (which set a team mark for wins) and a 9-0 NSIC mark (for its first league championship since 1996) and was ranked 11th in the final American Football Coaches Association Division II poll. The Bulldogs, who posted a perfect 11-0 regular season record for the first time in their 70-year history, fell to host Northwest Missouri State University 45-41 in their first-ever NCAA II playoff appearance on Nov. 23