The 1998 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky as a member of the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Hal Mumme, the Wildcats compiled an overall record of 7–5 with a mark of 4–4 in conference place, placing fourth in the SEC's Eastern Division. Kentucky was invited to the Outback Bowl, where the Wildcats lost to Penn State. The team played home games at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky.
Quarterback Tim Couch was the first overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft. Couch led Kentucky to a win on the road at No. 21 LSU. In the Outback Bowl, he completed 30 of 48 passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns in a losing effort. The Wildcats beat Louisville to claim the Governor's Cup.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries At Louisville
Statistics UKLOU First downs 37 26 Total yards 801 501 Rushing yards 230 133 Passing yards 571 368 Passing: comp–att–int 36–47–0 25–44–1 Turnovers 2 1 Team Category Player StatisticsKentucky Passing Tim Couch 29/39, 498 yards, 7 TD Rushing Derek Homer 19 rushes, 123 yards, TD Receiving Craig Yeast 9 receptions, 150 yards, 2 TDLouisville Passing Chris Redman 25/44, 368 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Rafael Cooper 14 rushes, 72 yards, TD Receiving Ibn Green 8 receptions, 132 yards, 2 TD
Eastern Kentucky
Indiana
Statistics IUUK First downs 20 22 Total yards 330 469 Rushing yards 168 89 Passing yards 162 380 Passing: comp–att–int 12–34–1 39–54–4 Turnovers 2 6 Team Category Player StatisticsIndiana Passing Antwaan Randle El 12/34, 162 yards, INT Rushing Chris Gall 5 rushes, 100 yards, TD Receiving Chris Gall 4 receptions, 56 yardsKentucky Passing Tim Couch 38/53, 301 yards, TD, 4 INT Rushing Derek Homer 11 rushes, 65 yards, TD Receiving Anthony White 9 receptions, 92 yards, TD
At No. 8 Florida
Statistics UKFLA First downs 21 21 Total yards 448 582 Rushing yards 42 130 Passing yards 406 452 Passing: comp–att–int 40–61–2 22–37–1 Turnovers 3 1 Team Category Player StatisticsKentucky Passing Tim Couch 40/61, 406 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Derek Homer 6 rushes, 20 yards Receiving Craig Yeast 6 receptions, 206 yards, 2 TDFlorida Passing Doug Johnson 13/23, 270 yards, 5 TD Rushing Terry Jackson 22 rushes, 116 yards Receiving Nafis Karim 6 receptions, 145 yards, 3 TD
At No. 22 Arkansas
Statistics UKARK First downs 28 23 Total yards 507 355 Rushing yards 8 132 Passing yards 499 223 Passing: comp–att–int 47–67–1 14–28–1 Turnovers 2 1 Team Category Player StatisticsKentucky Passing Tim Couch 47/67, 499 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Craig Yeast 1 rush, 21 yards Receiving Kevin Coleman 6 receptions, 105 yardsArkansas Passing Clint Stoerner 13/27, 199 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Madre Hill 23 rushes, 106 yards Receiving Anthony Lucas 6 receptions, 149 yards, TD
South Carolina
Statistics SCARUK First downs 20 25 Total yards 453 526 Rushing yards 85 211 Passing yards 368 315 Passing: comp–att–int 19–46–0 29–42–0 Turnovers 1 1 Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Carolina Passing Anthony Wright 11/29, 219 yards, TD Rushing Troy Hambrick 6 rushes, 83 yards, TD Receiving Boo Williams 7 receptions, 167 yards, TDKentucky Passing Tim Couch 29/42, 315 yards, 3 TD Rushing Anthony White 18 rushes, 108 yards Receiving Anthony White 8 receptions, 117 yards
At No. 21 LSU
Statistics UKLSU First downs 27 18 Total yards 573 342 Rushing yards 182 74 Passing yards 391 268 Passing: comp–att–int 37–50–1 15–26–0 Turnovers 2 0 Team Category Player StatisticsKentucky Passing Tim Couch 37/50, 391 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Derek Homer 11 rushes, 60 yards Receiving Craig Yeast 7 receptions, 122 yards, 2 TDLSU Passing Herb Tyler 15/26, 268 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kevin Faulk 20 rushes, 67 yards Receiving Larry Foster 5 receptions, 137 yards, 2 TD
No. 11 Georgia
Statistics UGAUK First downs 18 29 Total yards 332 530 Rushing yards 185 204 Passing yards 147 326 Passing: comp–att–int 10–14–1 34–47–3 Turnovers 2 3 Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia Passing Quincy Carter 10/14, 147 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Quincy Carter 14 rushes, 114 yards, TD Receiving Tony Small 3 receptions, 50 yards, TDKentucky Passing Tim Couch 34/46, 326 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Derek Homer 16 rushes, 91 yards, TD Receiving Kevin Coleman 6 receptions, 100 yards
Mississippi State
Statistics MSSTUK First downs 16 31 Total yards 417 519 Rushing yards 254 181 Passing yards 163 338 Passing: comp–att–int 8–17–0 35–45–1 Turnovers 1 2 Team Category Player StatisticsMississippi State Passing Wayne Madkin 8/16, 163 yards, 2 TD Rushing James Johnson 28 rushes, 209 yards, 2 TD Receiving Kevin Prentiss 4 receptions, 88 yards, TDKentucky Passing Tim Couch 35/45, 338 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Derek Homer 10 rushes, 130 yards, 2 TD Receiving Kevin Coleman 8 receptions, 103 yards, TD
Vanderbilt
Statistics VANUK First downs 11 31 Total yards 285 585 Rushing yards 100 94 Passing yards 185 585 Passing: comp–att–int 14–37–0 47–58–3 Turnovers 3 5 Team Category Player StatisticsVanderbilt Passing Greg Zolman 7/22, 165 yards, TD Rushing Jared McGrath 12 rushes, 53 yards Receiving Tavarus Hogans 3 receptions, 95 yards, TDKentucky Passing Tim Couch 44/53, 492 yards, 5 TD, 3 INT Rushing Derek Homer 10 rushes, 62 yards Receiving Craig Yeast 16 receptions, 269 yards, 2 TD
At No. 1 Tennessee
Statistics UKTENN First downs 21 21 Total yards 376 466 Rushing yards 39 237 Passing yards 337 229 Passing: comp–att–int 35–58–1 15–25–1 Turnovers 1 1 Team Category Player StatisticsKentucky Passing Tim Couch 35/56, 337 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Derek Homer 13 rushes, 50 yards, TD Receiving Craig Yeast 7 receptions, 102 yardsTennessee Passing Tee Martin 13/20, 189 yards, TD Rushing Travis Henry 15 rushes, 67 yards, TD Receiving Cedrick Wilson Sr. 4 receptions, 100 yards, TD
Vs. No. 22 Penn State (Outback Bowl)
Statistics PSUUK First downs 24 24 Total yards 420 441 Rushing yards 233 105 Passing yards 187 336 Passing: comp–att–int 14–27–0 30–48–2 Turnovers 1 3 Team Category Player StatisticsPenn State Passing Kevin Thompson 14/27, 187 yards, TD Rushing Eric McCoo 21 rushes, 105 yards Receiving Tony Stewart 7 receptions, 71 yardsKentucky Passing Tim Couch 30/48, 336 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Anthony White 8 rushes, 61 yards Receiving Derek Homer 7 receptions, 64 yards
Roster
1999 NFL draft
Tim Couch Quarterback1 1 Cleveland Browns
References