1983 Kentucky Wildcats football team

The 1983 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Wildcats scored 228 points while allowing 237 points.

After a 4-0 start, Kentucky finished the regular season 6-4-1 before playing in the 1983 Hall of Fame Classic Bowl, losing to #18 West Virginia, 20-16. The improvement from 1982's 0-10-1 mark was, at the time, an NCAA record for most improvement in wins from one season to the next.

Season
Following a 0-10-1 record in Jerry Claiborne's first season in 1982, Kentucky raced out to a 4-0 mark, opening with victories against Central Michigan, Kansas State, Indiana and Tulane. A loss to #7 Auburn was followed by a win at LSU, then a loss at #7 Georgia and a tie with Cincinnati. A win at Vanderbilt was followed by losses at #14 Florida and to Tennessee. The season closed with a 20-16 loss to #18 West Virginia in the 1983 Hall of Fame Classic Bowl.