The Wildcats played their home games at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky and competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

In Kentucky's second game of the season, the team ended the then-longest current losing streak in an uninterrupted series in FBS when they defeated Florida for the first time since 1986, and the first time in Gainesville since 1979, ending a losing streak of 31 games.

Kentucky ended the regular season tied for second in the SEC East Division with a conference record of 5–3.

On offense, the team was led by first-team All-SEC running back Benny Snell, who finished second in the conference in rushing with 1,449 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Quarterback Terry Wilson led the team in passing, finishing with 1,889 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The 2018 football recruiting cycle was the first in which the NCAA authorized two signing periods for high school seniors in that sport.