Eastern Michigan competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) West Division.

Following the 38–10 loss to Central Michigan, Woodruff, who had compiled a 9–34 record in 3 3⁄4 seasons, was fired on November 3.

[3] [16] EMU was briefly scheduled to host the University of South Florida Bulls in 2003.

[17] Roster EMU opened the season with the East Tennessee State Buccaneers, a Division I-AA team in the Southern Conference.

[20] EMU's offense committed six turnovers,[21] including four interceptions thrown by Chinedu Okoro,[20] about which head coach Jeff Woodruff commented, "You can’t beat a high school team giving up five turnovers...Mathematically, you are out of the game with that.