The 1989 Kentucky Wildcats football team, led by head coach Jerry Claiborne in his eighth season, had a record of 6-5 overall and 2-5 in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Wildcats scored a total of 212 points and allowed 220 points over the season. They opened the season with wins against Indiana and North Carolina, but faced tough losses against Alabama and Auburn. They managed to secure victories against Rutgers, LSU, Cincinnati, and Vanderbilt, but ended the season with losses to Florida and Tennessee