Until about 1913, the modern University of Kentucky was referred to as "Kentucky State College" and nearby Transylvania University was known as "Kentucky University".
In 1880, Kentucky University and Centre College played the first intercollegiate football game in Kentucky.
Kentucky State first fielded a football team in 1881, playing three games against rival Kentucky University.
 The team was revived in 1891.
Both the inaugural 1881 squad and the revived 1891 squad have unknown coaches according to university records in winning two games and losing three.
The 1891 team's colors were blue and light yellow, decided before the Centre–Kentucky game on December 19.
A student asked "What color blue?"
and varsity letterman Richard C. Stoll pulled off his necktie, and held it up.
This is still held as the origin of Kentucky's shade of blue.
 The next year light yellow was dropped and changed to white.
The 1892 team was coached by A. M. Miller, and went 2–4–1.

The greatest UK team of this era was the 1898 squad, known simply to Kentuckians as "The Immortals."
To this day, the Immortals remain the only undefeated, untied, and unscored upon team in UK football history.
The Immortals were coached by W. R. Bass and ended the year a perfect 7–0–0, despite an average weight of 147 pounds per player.
Victories came easily for this squad, as the Immortals raced by Kentucky University (18- 0), Georgetown (28–0), Company H of the 8th Massachusetts (59–0), Louisville Athletic Club (16–0), Centre (6–0), 160th Indiana (17–0) and Newcastle Athletic Club (36–0).

Head coach Jack Wright led the team to a 7–1 record in 1903, losing only to rival and southern champion Kentucky University.

Fred Schacht posted a 15–4–1 record in two seasons but died unexpectedly after his second season.
J. White Guyn also had success leading the Wildcats, posting a 17–7–1 record in his three years.

Edwin Sweetland went 16–3 in three seasons (1909–1910 and 1912) but resigned due to poor health.
Sweetland also served as Kentucky's first athletics director.
The 1909 team upset the Illinois Fighting Illini.
Upon their welcome home, Philip Carbusier said that they had "fought like wildcats," a nickname that stuck.

John J. Tigert coached Kentucky for two seasons (1915–1916) with each season having one loss.
1915 captain Charles C. Schrader was All-Southern.
The 1916 team fought the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) co-champion Tennessee Volunteers to a scoreless tie.
The year's only a loss, 45–0 to the Irby Curry-led Vanderbilt Commodores, was the dedication of Stoll Field.
 Quarterbacks Curry and Kentucky's Doc Rodes were both selected All-Southern at year's end.
Vanderbilt coach Dan McGugin stated "If you would give me Doc Rodes, I would say he was a greater player than Curry."

Coach Harry Gamage had a 32–25–5 record during his seven seasons from 1927 to 1933.
A.D. Kirwan, who would go on to be the president of the university, coached the Wildcats from 1938 to 1944 and posted a 24–28–4 record in those six seasons.

Longtime athletics director Bernie Shively also served as Kentucky's head football coach for the 1945 season.
Until about 1913, the modern University of Kentucky was referred to as "Kentucky State College" and nearby Transylvania University was known as "Kentucky University". In 1880, Kentucky University and Centre College played the first intercollegiate football game in Kentucky. Kentucky State first fielded a football team in 1881, playing three games against rival Kentucky University.  The team was revived in 1891. Both the inaugural 1881 squad and the revived 1891 squad have unknown coaches according to university records in winning two games and losing three. The 1891 team's colors were blue and light yellow, decided before the Centre–Kentucky game on December 19. A student asked "What color blue?" and varsity letterman Richard C. Stoll pulled off his necktie, and held it up. This is still held as the origin of Kentucky's shade of blue.  The next year light yellow was dropped and changed to white. The 1892 team was coached by A. M. Miller, and went 2–4–1.
The greatest UK team of this era was the 1898 squad, known simply to Kentuckians as "The Immortals." To this day, the Immortals remain the only undefeated, untied, and unscored upon team in UK football history. The Immortals were coached by W. R. Bass and ended the year a perfect 7–0–0, despite an average weight of 147 pounds per player. Victories came easily for this squad, as the Immortals raced by Kentucky University (18- 0), Georgetown (28–0), Company H of the 8th Massachusetts (59–0), Louisville Athletic Club (16–0), Centre (6–0), 160th Indiana (17–0) and Newcastle Athletic Club (36–0).
Head coach Jack Wright led the team to a 7–1 record in 1903, losing only to rival and southern champion Kentucky University.
Fred Schacht posted a 15–4–1 record in two seasons but died unexpectedly after his second season. J. White Guyn also had success leading the Wildcats, posting a 17–7–1 record in his three years.
Edwin Sweetland went 16–3 in three seasons (1909–1910 and 1912) but resigned due to poor health. Sweetland also served as Kentucky's first athletics director. The 1909 team upset the Illinois Fighting Illini. Upon their welcome home, Philip Carbusier said that they had "fought like wildcats," a nickname that stuck.
John J. Tigert coached Kentucky for two seasons (1915–1916) with each season having one loss. 1915 captain Charles C. Schrader was All-Southern. The 1916 team fought the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) co-champion Tennessee Volunteers to a scoreless tie. The year's only a loss, 45–0 to the Irby Curry-led Vanderbilt Commodores, was the dedication of Stoll Field.  Quarterbacks Curry and Kentucky's Doc Rodes were both selected All-Southern at year's end. Vanderbilt coach Dan McGugin stated "If you would give me Doc Rodes, I would say he was a greater player than Curry."
Coach Harry Gamage had a 32–25–5 record during his seven seasons from 1927 to 1933. A.D. Kirwan, who would go on to be the president of the university, coached the Wildcats from 1938 to 1944 and posted a 24–28–4 record in those six seasons.
Longtime athletics director Bernie Shively also served as Kentucky's head football coach for the 1945 season.
Kentucky Wildcats football