1976 Kentucky Wildcats football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1976 Kentucky Wildcats football Southeastern Conference SEC 19 18 8–4 4–2 Fran Curci 4th Jon Mirilovich 4th Charlie Bailey 2nd Commonwealth Stadium Peach Bowl championSEC co-champion (retroactively awarded in 1978) Peach Bowl W Won 21–0 vs. North Carolina The 1976 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. The Wildcats beat four different ranked teams during the season, scoring 209 points while allowing 151 points. Kentucky won the 1976 Peach Bowl and finished the season 8–4 and ranked #19 in the country. Kentucky opened the season with a 38–13 victory over Oregon State. Next was a 16–37 loss at Kansas. The following week, Kentucky defeated West Virginia 14–10.1976 Kentucky Wildcats games and scores https://web.archive.org/web/20091006084341/http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Kentucky.htm 2009-10-06 On October 10, Kentucky hosted #20 ranked Penn State.Story, Mark, UK football's greatest wins at Commonwealth, Lexington Herald-Leader, September 4, 2011 The 57,733 in attendance was the largest crowd ever for a football game in the state of Kentucky up to that time. Kentucky quarterback Derrick Ramsey ran for 95 yards and a touchdown; running back Chris Hill added 106 yards and a touchdown, and safety Rick Hayden had two interceptions. Kentucky held Penn State to 212 yards of total offense and won 22–6. Penn State coach Joe Paterno commented after the game, "That was a good football team we played. What can you say after you get the devil kicked out of you?" That victory was followed by a 7–14 loss at Mississippi State, a team that would finish the season with a 9–2 record. The following week, Kentucky defeated LSU 21–7. A 7–31 loss to Georgia was next, followed by a 14–24 loss at Maryland. Kentucky went undefeated in November, defeating Vanderbilt 14–0 and Florida 28–9, and beating Tennessee 7–0 in Knoxville. Kentucky finished the season in the 1976 Peach Bowl against 9–2 North Carolina, ranked #18.AP Poll Archive http://www.appollarchive.com https://web.archive.org/web/20090426041941/http://www.appollarchive.com/ 2009-04-26 dead 2009-03-31 Kentucky outgained North Carolina 334 yards to 109; the Wildcat defense held the Tar Heels to a total of five first downs and the Wildcats forced five turnovers.2001 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, '1976 Peach Bowl', p. 166 Kentucky won 21–0 and ended the season ranked #19 in the AP poll. In 1978, the loss to Mississippi State was vacated due to sanctions, which meant that Kentucky officially went 5–2 in SEC play and therefore was co-champion of the SEC for 1976. As of 2025, it currently is the last time Kentucky has won the SEC in football.How Kentucky's 1976 football team became SEC champions in 1978 Lexington Herald-Leader https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-football/article109488107.html https://web.archive.org/web/20170201235922/http://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-football/article109488107.html 2026-08-30 2017-02-01 Schedule 1976 AP September 11 w y Oregon State Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY 38–13 56,723 https://www.newspapers.com/article/statesman-journal-kentucky-deals-osu-2nd/134270417/ The Oregon Statesman Journal Kentucky deals OSU 2nd defeat September 12, 1976 October 29, 2023 Newspapers.com September 18 l y y Kansas 13 Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS 16–37 42,615–50,170 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-kansas-trounces-ken/134270505/ The Kansas City Star Kansas trounces Kentucky and beats the heat September 19, 1976 October 29, 2023 Newspapers.com September 25 w y West Virginia Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY 14–10 57,703 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-paducah-sun-ramsey-ramrods-kentucky/134270573/ The Paducah Sun-Democrat Ramsey ramrods Kentucky by West Virginia September 26, 1976 October 29, 2023 Newspapers.com October 2 w y Penn State 20 Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY 22–6 57,733 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-penn-state-loses-3r/134270655/ The Pittsburgh Press Penn State loses 3rd straight, 22–6 October 3, 1976 October 29, 2023 Newspapers.com October 9 w y Mississippi State Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS 7–14 (forfeit) 31,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-uks-early-bobbles-a/134270712/ The Courier-Journal UK's early bobbles are fatal in 14–7 loss to Miss. State October 10, 1976 October 29, 2023 Newspapers.comhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LQkdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7p4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7075%2C6391745 Bulldogs forced to forfeit 19 football games Associated Press The Tuscaloosa News 19 May 24, 1978 October 29, 2023 October 16 w LSU 16 Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY 21–7 57,695 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-uk-becomes-contender/134269675/ The Courier-Journal UK becomes contender in topsy-turvey SEC race October 17, 1976 October 29, 2023 Newspapers.com October 23 l Georgia 10 Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY 7–31 57,733 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-georgia-chills-kentucky-3/134270821/ The Tennessean Georgia chills Kentucky 31–7 October 24, 1976 October 29, 2023 Newspapers.com October 30 l y y ABC1998 University of Kentucky Football Media Guide 1998 199 University of Kentucky Athletics Association Maryland 5 Byrd Stadium College Park, MD 14–24 43,013 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lexington-herald-fifth-rankes-terrap/134270900/ Sunday Herald-Leader Fifth-rankes Terrapins convince Kentucky 24–14 October 31, 1976 October 29, 2023 Newspapers.com November 6 w Vanderbilt rivalry Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY 14–0 57,269 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-paducah-sun-cats-celebrate-homecomi/134255414/ The Paducah Sun-Democrat 'Cats celebrate homecoming by knocking off Vanderbilt November 7, 1976 October 28, 2023 Newspapers.com November 13 w Florida 15 rivalry Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY 28–9 55,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-wildcats-choke-gators/134270983/ The Miami Herald Wildcats choke Gators' hopes for SEC title November 14, 1976 October 28, 2023 Newspapers.com November 20 w y Tennessee Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN rivalry 7–0 80,336 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101390410/derrick-ramsey-stars-as-cats-edge-vols/ The Leaf-Chronicle Derrick Ramsey stars as 'Cats edge Vols November 21, 1976 May 8, 2022 Newspapers.com December 31 w y y Mizlouuk98 North Carolina 19 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium Atlanta, GA Peach Bowl 21–0 54,132 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-kentucky-rips-v/134271039/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution Kentucky rips Voight-less Heels January 1, 1977 October 28, 2023 Newspapers.com Roster 1976 Kentucky Wildcats f }} * Team players in the 1977 NFL draft 1977 NFL draft 2 Kentucky Wildcats Player Position Round Pick NFL club Warren BryantTackle1 6 Atlanta Falcons Randy Burke Wide Receiver1 26 Baltimore Colts https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1977.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071222092345/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1977.htm 2007-12-22 1977 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com References Kentucky Category:Kentucky Wildcats football seasons Category:Peach Bowl champion seasons Kentucky Wildcats football