Jan. 4, 2002

The Villanova University Football team finished off the 2001 season ranked in the Top 25, in both the ESPN/USA Today and The Sports Network Final I-AA college football polls. The honor marks the fifth straight year dating back to the 1996 season that the Wildcats have ended the year nationally ranked. In the ESPN/USA Today poll, Villanova earned 191 points and a No. 19 ranking, while The Sports Network poll had the Wildcats at No. 20 with 95 points.

Head Coach Andy Talley and the Wildcats ended the 2001 season with an 8-3 overall record and a 7-2 Atlantic 10 conference mark. The Wildcats were led by 2001 Walter Payton Award winner Brian Westbrook who was named the Offensive Player of the Year in NCAA I-AA football.