The 1958 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1958 college football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Blanton Collier, the Wildcats compiled an overall record of 5âÂÂ4âÂÂ1 with a mark of 3âÂÂ4âÂÂ1 in conference play, placing tied for sixth in the SEC.
Kentucky opened with a 51âÂÂ0 win over Hawaii at Fairgrounds Stadium in Louisville. A 13âÂÂ0 win in the SEC opener against Georgia Tech followed. 2âÂÂ0 Kentucky, then ranked #17 in the AP poll, then lost four games in a row: 27âÂÂ6 to #9 Ole Miss in Memphis, 8âÂÂ0 to #1 Auburn, 32âÂÂ7 at #9 LSU and 28âÂÂ0 at Georgia. A 33âÂÂ12 win over Mississippi State was followed by a 0âÂÂ0 tie against Vanderbilt. After a 20âÂÂ6 win against Xavier, Kentucky closed the season with a 6âÂÂ2 victory at Tennessee.
The victory over Tennessee was Kentucky's second in a row, and second in a stretch of four games in which Kentucky denied Tennessee a win. The Wildcats were invited to participate in the 1958 Bluegrass Bowl but declined due to what they considered to be poor treatment during their season opener, a win against Hawaii in the stadium in which the Bluegrass Bowl would be played. Florida State and Oklahoma State played in the 1958 Bluegrass Bowl instead.
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