2002 Murray State Racers football team

American college football season September 2026 September 2026 2002 Murray State Racers football Ohio Valley Conference OVC 20 7–5 5–1 Joe Pannunzio 3rd Roy Stewart Stadium OVC champion NCAA Division I-AA First Round L 20–59 vs. Western Kentucky The 2002 Murray State Racers football team represented Murray State University in the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The team was led by third-year head coach Joe Pannunzio and played their home games at Roy Stewart Stadium in Murray, Kentucky. The Racers finished the season with a 7–5 overall record and a 5–1 record in Ohio Valley Conference games, tying them with Eastern Illinois for the conference championship. They qualified for the Division I-AA playoffs, where they lost to Western Kentucky in the first round.2026 Murray State Football Record Book https://goracers.com/documents/2026/9/16/2026_Murray_State_Football_Record_Book__3_.pdf Murray State University Athletics 74 September 20, 2026 Murray State was ranked No. 20 in The Sports Network's postseason Division I-AA poll.College Division I-AA poll The Springfield News-Leader Springfield, Missouri November 26, 2002 2D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10727876/poll_2002_1126_i_aa/ Newspapers.com September 20, 2026 Schedule 2002 NCAA Division I-AA The Sports Network August 31 l y y Memphis Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN 6–52 29,694 Fosko Joey Pregame loss hurts Racers before Memphis thumping https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-paducah-sun/206378329/ September 20, 2026 The Paducah Sun September 1, 2002 1B Newspapers.com September 14 w y Southern Illinois Roy Stewart Stadium Murray, KY 42–24 8,673 Yates Jason Murray exploits Saluki loss https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92538080/the-paducah-sun/ September 20, 2026 The Paducah Sun September 15, 2002 1B Newspapers.com September 21 l y y Illinois State Hancock Stadium Normal, IL 23–24 7,674 Reinhardt Randy ISU shows toughness https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114233921/the-pantagraph/ September 20, 2026 The Pantagraph September 22, 2002 D1 Newspapers.com September 28 l y y Indiana State Memorial Stadium Terre Haute, IN 31–34 OT 3,762 Fosko Joey Kick in the pants: Overtime field goal beats Racers in OT https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-paducah-sun/206384155/ September 20, 2026 The Paducah Sun September 29, 2002 1B Newspapers.com October 12 w y 2002 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles Tennessee Tech Roy Stewart Stadium Murray, KY 31–14 8,307 Odoms' two touchdowns lead Murray to 31-14 win https://www.newspapers.com/article/messenger-inquirer/206384436/ September 20, 2026 Messenger-Inquirer Associated Press October 13, 2002 5B Newspapers.com October 19 l y 2002 Eastern Kentucky Colonels Eastern Kentucky 22 Roy Kidd Stadium Richmond, KY 7–31 10,100 Brown C. L. Colonels shut up, then shut down Murray 31-7 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal/206384702/ September 20, 2026 Courier Journal October 20, 2002 C10 Newspapers.com October 26 w 2002 Southeast Missouri State Indians Southeast Missouri State Roy Stewart Stadium Murray, KY 38–31 4,554 Fosko Joey Racers make amends, remain in league race https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-paducah-sun/206385214/ September 20, 2026 The Paducah Sun October 27, 2002 1B Newspapers.com November 2 w y Samford Roy Stewart Stadium Murray, KY 54–17 2,580 https://www.newspapers.com/article/messenger-inquirer-murray-state-rolls-to/176057653/ Messenger-Inquirer Murray State rolls to win over Samford November 3, 2002 September 20, 2026 5B Newspapers.com November 9 w Tennessee State Roy Stewart Stadium Murray, KY 51–27 3,774 https://www.newspapers.com/article/messenger-inquirer-racers-keep-home-stre/142581293/ Racers keep home streak alive, 51–27 Messenger-Inquirer Associated Press November 10, 2002 September 20, 2026 5B Newspapers.com November 16 w y 2002 Tennessee–Martin Skyhawks Tennessee–Martin Graham Stadium Martin, TN 42–3 2,342 Murray State rolls over Tennessee-Martin, 42-3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/messenger-inquirer/206385857/ September 20, 2026 Messenger-Inquirer Associated Press November 17, 2002 5B Newspapers.com November 23 w Eastern Illinois 2 Roy Stewart Stadium Murray, KY 37–35 6,112 Garth Gary Murray wins title on last-second FG https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal/206386257/ September 20, 2026 Courier Journal November 24, 2002 C11 Newspapers.com November 30 l y y 23 Western Kentucky 15 L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY NCAA Division I-AA First Round, Battle for the Red Belt 20–59 3,300 Herbst Rob Western mangles Murray https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-park-city-daily-news/206386584/ September 20, 2026 Park City Daily News December 1, 2002 1B Newspapers.com References Murray State Category:Murray State Racers football seasons Category:Ohio Valley Conference football champion seasons Murray State Murray State Racers football