In Dale Lennon's fifth year as head coach, the team compiled a record of 12–2 overall and won the North Central Conference (NCC) title with a 7–0 mark.
North Dakota was led on offense by two quarterbacks in Jon Bowenkamp and Joe Wilson, running back Adam Roland, and receivers Dan Grossman and Team-Voted MVP Willis Stattelman.
North Dakota lost to Grand Valley State in the final of the NCAA Division II Football Championship, a reverse of the 2001 result.
In the first quarter Travis Lueck returned a blocked punt fifty-one yards to give the Sioux a six-to-nothing lead.
After Augustana made it six to three in the fourth quarter the Sioux put it away as Dan Grossman scored on a thirty-six-yard pass from Jon Bowenkamp and UND won thirteen to three.
At halftime UND coach Dale Lennon switched quarterbacks putting in sixth-year senior Joe Wilson.
As time ran out the Sioux had one chance as kicker Jeff Glas attempted a fifty-two yard field goal.
At halftime Dale Lennon undid the previous week's quarterback switch, putting Jon Bowenkamp back in.
With under ten minutes left in the fourth quarter Travis Lueck caught his second touchdown of over fifty yards to give UND a twenty-one–to–seven lead.
Adam Roland ran for one hundred sixty-eight yards and Dan Grossman scored a touchdown from Joe Wilson as UND won twenty-four to fourteen.
The season came down to the 2001 national championship game rematch as the Grand Valley St. Lakers took on the North Dakota Fighting Sioux.