1974 Kentucky Wildcats football team

1974 Kentucky Wildcats football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Record6–5 (3–3 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJon Mirilovich (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorBill Narduzzi (2nd season)
Home stadiumCommonwealth Stadium
Seasons
← 1973
1975 →
1974 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 5 Alabama $ 6 0 0 11 1 0
No. 8 Auburn 4 2 0 10 2 0
Georgia 4 2 0 6 6 0
No. 17 Mississippi State 3 3 0 9 3 0
No. 15 Florida 3 3 0 8 4 0
Kentucky 3 3 0 6 5 0
No. 20 Tennessee 2 3 1 7 3 2
Vanderbilt 2 3 1 7 3 2
LSU 2 4 0 5 5 1
Ole Miss 0 6 0 3 8 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1974 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. The Wildcats scored 248 points while allowing 194 points, finishing 6–5 overall and 3–3 in the SEC.[1][2]

Mike Fanuzzi and Tom Ehlers were chosen as team captains.[2]

Kentucky opened with a 38–7 win at Virginia Tech, followed by a 16–3 road loss at West Virginia. A 28–22 home win against Indiana was next, then a 14–10 loss to Miami (Ohio).[1][2]

Kentucky lost its SEC opener on the road at Auburn, 31–13, but followed with a 20–13 home win against LSU, the Wildcats' first victory vs. the Bayou Bengals since 1960. A 24–20 home loss to Georgia was followed by a 30–7 win at Tulane. Kentucky then won two conference games at home, 38–12 against Vanderbilt and 41–24 against #9-ranked Florida (7–2). Florida already received an invitation to the Sugar Bowl, while Kentucky, at 5–4, was looking to clinch its first winning season since 1965. Florida jumped out to a 17–6 lead but Kentucky outscored the Gators 35–7 the rest of the way, causing three Florida fumbles, intercepting two passes and blocking two punts.[3] Kentucky closed its season with a 24–7 loss at Tennessee for a final mark of 6–5 overall and 3–3 in the SEC.[1][2]

  1. ^ a b c "1974 Kentucky Wildcats game by game results". Archived from the original on October 6, 2009. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d 1997 Kentucky Football Media Guide, p.208
  3. ^ Story, Mark, UK football's greatest wins at Commonwealth, Lexington Herald-Leader, September 4, 2011