Wabash finished the year with a 12-1 mark, going undefeated in the regular season to earn the North Coast Athletic Conference championship. The Little Giants earned a spot in the NCAA Divison III football tournament for the first time since 1977. Wabash defeated MacMurray College 42-7 in the opening round of the tournament, then beat Wittenberg University for the second time in 2002 with a 25-14 second-round win. Wabash's only loss came in the quarterfinals against eventual national champion Mount Union. The Little Giants lost to the now three-time national champs 45-16.
Wabash did not enter the AFCA polls in 2002 until after a 46-43 overtime win at Wittenberg in the regular season put the Little Giants 15th in the top-25 poll. Wabash moved to tenth place a week later, then topped the poll at ninth for the remainder of the regular season.