American college football season
The 1986 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season . In their fifth season under head coach Jerry Claiborne , the Wildcats compiled a 5–5–1 record (2–4 against SEC opponents), finished in a tie for seventh place in the SEC, and outscored their opponents, 228 to 206.[ 1] [ 2] The team played its home games in Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky .
The team's statistical leaders included Bill Ransdell with 1,610 passing yards, Ivy Joe Hunter with 621 rushing yards, and Cornell Burbage with 331 receiving yards.[ 3] This season was the last time Kentucky defeated Florida until 2018 and the last win over Florida at home until 2021.[ 4]
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 13 Rutgers * T 16–1657,424 [ 5] September 20 Kent State * Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY W 37–1254,865 [ 6] September 27 at Cincinnati * W 37–2036,233 [ 7] October 4 Southern Miss * Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY W 32–058,102 [ 8] October 11 at Ole Miss L 13–3328,000 [ 9] October 18 No. 12 LSU Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY L 16–2557,201 [ 10] October 25 Georgia Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY L 9–3156,820 [ 11] November 1 at Virginia Tech * L 15–1730,300 [ 12] November 8 Vanderbilt Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY (rivalry ) W 34–2248,230 [ 13] November 15 Florida Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY (rivalry ) W 10–352,160 [ 14] November 22 at Tennessee L 9–2890,747 [ 15] *Non-conference game Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game
1986 Kentucky Wildcats football team roster Players Coaches Offense Defense Special teams Pos. # Name Class P 1 Jeff Nelson So
Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt
^ "1986 Kentucky Wildcats Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 23, 2016 . ^ "Kentucky Football Media Guide" . University of Kentucky. 2015. p. 184. Retrieved August 23, 2016 . ^ "1986 Kentucky Wildcats Stats" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 23, 2016 . ^ Hale, Jon (September 8, 2018). "Kentucky snaps 31-game losing streak to Florida" . USA Today . Retrieved December 10, 2018 . ^ "Late Kentucky FG ties Rutgers, 16–16" . Daily Record . September 14, 1986. Retrieved November 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Kent has a big hand in Kentucky's victory" . The Akron Beacon Journal . September 21, 1986. Retrieved November 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Interceptions ruin UC, 37–20" . The Cincinnati Enquirer . September 28, 1986. Retrieved November 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Wildcats blow out Southern Miss" . Lexington Herald-Leader . October 5, 1986. Retrieved March 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Rejuvenated Rebs smack down Kentucky" . The Commercial Appeal . October 12, 1986. Retrieved November 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "LSU survives Kentucky, 25–16" . The Cincinnati Enquirer . October 19, 1986. Retrieved November 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Georgia pounds Kentucky 31–9" . Messenger-Inquirer . October 26, 1986. Retrieved November 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Tech kicks 'Cats" . The Danville Register . November 2, 1986. Retrieved November 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "UK's Ivy Joe breaks out, rips Vandy for 238 yards" . The Courier-Journal . November 9, 1986. Retrieved November 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com . ^ " 'Cats put Gator Bowl plans in deep freeze" . The Tennessean . November 16, 1986. Retrieved November 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Vols earn Liberty bid, 28–9" . Kingsport Times-News . November 23, 1986. Retrieved October 5, 2022 – via Newspapers.com .
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