Kentucky football 2023 recap: A look back at each game for the Wildcats

Kentucky football finished the 2023 season with a 7-6 record for the second straight year.

Preseason hopes of contending for the SEC East were elevated with a 5-0 start that proved to be fool’s gold. The Wildcats did not beat an SEC team that reached bowl eligibility, but closed the regular season with an upset of arch rival Louisville, which was ranked in the top 10 at the time of the game.

UK looked on the verge of beating No. 22 Clemson in the Gator Bowl before four fourth quarter turnovers led to a 38-35 loss.

Kentucky football schedule 2023

Sept. 2: Kentucky 44, Ball State 14 (Box score | Recap)

Sept. 9: Kentucky 28, Eastern Kentucky 17 (Box score | Recap)

Sept. 16: Kentucky 35, Akron 3 (Box score | Recap)

Sept. 23: Kentucky 45, Vanderbilt 28 (Box score | Recap)

Sept. 30: Kentucky 33, Florida 14 (Box score | Recap)

Oct. 7: Georgia 51, Kentucky 13 (Box score | Recap)

Oct. 14: Missouri 38, Kentucky 21 (Box score | Recap)

Oct. 28: Tennessee 33, Kentucky 27 (Box score | Recap)

Nov. 4: Kentucky 24, Mississippi State 3 (Box score | Recap)

Nov. 11: Alabama 49, Kentucky 21 (Box score | Recap)

Nov. 18: South Carolina 17, Kentucky 14 (Box score | Recap)

Nov. 25: Kentucky 38, Louisville 31 (Box score | Recap)

Dec. 29: Clemson 38, Kentucky 35 (Box score | Recap)

This story was originally published May 31, 2023 at 5:37 PM.

Jon Hale

Lexington Herald-Leader

(859) 414-6776

Jon Hale is the University of Kentucky football beat writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader. He joined the Herald-Leader in 2022 but has covered UK athletics for more than 10 years. Hale was named the 2021 Kentucky Sportswriter of the Year. Support my work with a digital subscription