The 1965 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the Southeastern Conference during the 1965 NCAA University Division football season. The Wildcats scored 202 points while allowing 160 points, finishing 6âÂÂ4 overall, 3âÂÂ3 in the SEC.
Rick Norton and Sam Ball were chosen as team captains.
Kentucky opened with a 7âÂÂ0 win at Missouri. Missouri finished the season ranked #6 in the nation, with a record of 8âÂÂ2âÂÂ1. Kentucky entered Week 2 of the season ranked #10 in the country.
The second game was a 16âÂÂ7 win against Ole Miss. Kentucky advanced to a #6 ranking in the AP poll.
A loss at Auburn (23âÂÂ18) was followed by a 26âÂÂ24 win against Florida State. A 31âÂÂ21 loss at LSU was followed by a 28âÂÂ10 win over Georgia and a 28âÂÂ8 victory over West Virginia. Kentucky then was ranked again in the AP poll, at #10.
Next was a 34âÂÂ0 win over Vanderbilt. Kentucky retained its #10 ranking in the AP poll.
At that point Kentucky was offered a bid to the Gator Bowl but turned it down, hoping for a better bowl invitation. However, star quarterback Rick Norton suffered a broken leg in the next game, which ended up being a 38âÂÂ21 loss at Houston, and a 19âÂÂ3 loss to Tennessee left the Wildcats with a 6âÂÂ4 record and no bowl game.