Coaches No. 19 1976 record 8-4 (4-2 SEC) Home stadium Commonwealth Stadium | AP No. 18 Head coach Fran Curci | |
Conference Southeastern Conference | ||
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.
Season
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.
On October 10, Kentucky hosted #20 ranked Penn State. 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 intereceptions. 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. 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. Kentucky won 21-0 and ended the season ranked #19 in the AP poll.