Led by fifth-year head coach Blanton Collier, the Wildcats compiled an overall record of 5–4–1 with a mark of 3–4–1 in conference play, placing tied for sixth in the SEC.
[1] Kentucky opened with a 51–0 win over Hawaii at Fairgrounds Stadium in Louisville.
2–0 Kentucky, then ranked #17 in the AP poll,[2] then lost four games in a row: 27–6 to #9 Ole Miss in Memphis, 8–0 to #1 Auburn, 32–7 at #9 LSU and 28–0 at Georgia.
After a 20–6 win against Xavier, Kentucky closed the season with a 6–2 victory at Tennessee.
[5] The Wildcats were invited to participate in the 1958 Bluegrass Bowl but declined due to what they considered to be poor treatment during their season opener, a win against Hawaii in the stadium in which the Bluegrass Bowl would be played.