Kentucky
Chip Kelly to Kentucky? A Rumor That Could Be The Result of a Bad Game of Telephone
After a long day of waiting, we learned around 9:30 PM ET that Kentucky was moving on from Mark Stoops. KSR was prepared with a Hot Board of potential candidates for the job. A new name was thrown into the foray around midnight.
Mike Florio shared on Pro Football Talk that former Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly could be the next head football coach of the Kentucky Wildcats.
“Word is circulating among Kentucky players that Kelly could be the team’s next head coach,” Florio writes. “That doesn’t mean he will be. It doesn’t even mean he’s an official candidate. It means only that Kentucky players have somehow developed the impression that Kelly could be the new coach.”
Really!?!?!? Chip Kelly?
Florio is well-versed in the NFL rumor mill. His website burns and turns through them, and many of those rumors amount to nothing. There are many reasons why this rumor makes no sense, but there is an explanation for it.
Long after he was an offensive innovator at Oregon, or a head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, Chip Kelly spent five years as UCLA’s head coach. They had moderate success during his tenure, with three straight 8+ win seasons, but he abruptly left in February of 2024 to become the Ohio State offensive coordinator. Why? The demands of the NIL era ahead of UCLA’s move to the Big Ten were too much. He’d rather call plays than organize NIL efforts as a head coach.
If Kelly didn’t want to be a head coach in Westwood, why would he want to be one in Lexington? There’s an explanation that connects all of the dots.
The Kelly That Should Be At Kentucky
A big reason Mark Stoops is no longer the Kentucky head coach is because of the program’s structure in the NIL and revenue-sharing era. His best years were before the changes in the sport. Kentucky fell behind, and now they’re playing catch-up.
Most schools around the SEC are hiring general managers to create an NFL front office structure in the college football ranks. On Sunday, Florida hired David Caldwell to be the Gators’ GM. The former Jacksonville Jaguars’ general manager has connections to the Florida program.
Kentucky can make a similar move, not with Chip Kelly, but with Champ Kelly. The latter played wide receiver and defensive back at Kentucky from 1998-01. He’s had a successful professional career in NFL front offices, rising through the ranks with the Broncos and Bears.
Kelly appears to have hit a hard ceiling in the NFL. Even though he served as an interim general manager for the Raiders for two years, and is currently the interim GM in Miami, for whatever reason, he’s not getting the full-time gigs.
In short, Champ Kelly is the perfect person to become the Kentucky football general manager. It’s easy to understand how Chip and Champ could be confused. Hopefully, this Florio rumor forecasts good news for the future of the Kentucky football front office.
We discussed Champ Kelly’s expertise and the potential addition of a general manager during Sunday night’s Rapid Reaction.
Kentucky
Kentucky Lottery Cash Ball, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for June 25, 2026
13 things more likely to happen than winning the Powerball jackpot
Hoping to win the Powerball jackpot? Here are 13 things more likely to happen than becoming an instant millionaire.
The Kentucky Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Thursday, June 25, 2026 winning numbers for each game.
Cash Ball
02-08-24-32, Cash Ball: 09
Check Cash Ball payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 3
Evening: 6-3-0
Midday: 9-6-0
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
Evening: 5-7-6-0
Midday: 5-2-6-6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Millionaire for Life
03-13-14-34-45, Bonus: 01
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Courier Journal digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.
Kentucky
Takeaways from Kentucky’s home and away SEC schedule for next season
On Thursday, Kentucky’s home and away SEC opponents for the 2026-27 season were revealed and on top of learning the three opponents who they will play twice, there are some very intriguing matchups. In conference play, Kentucky will face six teams who are among the top 25 in many preseason rankings.
In SEC play, Kentucky will play Tennessee, Vandy and Ole Miss all both home and away. The home matchups include Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vandy. As for the road tilts, the Wildcats will face Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee and Vandy. Let’s take a look at some interesting developments from the schedule release.
John Calipari returns to Rupp Arena (again)
In Calipari’s first year with Arkansas, he got the best of Kentucky when he came into Rupp Arena and left with a 10-point victory, a game where you could really feel the tension all game long in the building from Kentucky fans, which translated onto the court with the players. Last season, it was Kentucky who shocked everyone when they stole one on the road against a top 20 Arkansas team after a rough up-and-down season up to that point. Now, the two will face off again as Kentucky will look to get the win in Rupp and make sure Calipari doesn’t get two in a row in the building. It’ll be another highly-anticipated showdown.
Kentucky hits the road at Texas
This is shaping up to be a major challenge for Kentucky next season and may even end up being one of the biggest games of the season. Texas is seen by many as a clear top 10 team, with some even having them within the top five and when you combine that with the fact that the game is on the road, the Wildcats will have their hands full. The Wildcats fell to the longhorns in the 2024-25 season, and it’ll be a much stiffer challenge this time.
Which game could be a trap?
We don’t have the game-by-game dates yet, so it’s hard to say with a lot of confidence, but opponent-wise, Georgia could really give Kentucky fits. In Pope’s first year, his team struggled handling the physicality of the Bulldogs and now, they’ve retained one of their best guards for another year and have added physicality through the portal. Mike White’s teams love to make opponents uncomfortable and they could do that once again down in Athens. Another sneaky team to watch is Oklahoma, who will have very good guard play. Kentucky will face both teams on the road.
Overall, it’s a pretty fair SEC schedule for a Kentucky team who has the capability of a return to being atop the conference once again. Mark Pope has such a system-fit squad and he can do some damage in the SEC.
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Kentucky
Can you set off fireworks in Kentucky? See laws ahead of Fourth of July
Fourth of July festivities to celebrate in Louisville
See the Fourth of July festivities planned in Louisville for America’s 250th birthday celebration.
Fourth of July is almost here, and Kentuckians are getting ready to light up the sky.
Before you plan your fireworks celebrations, it’s important to know what is and isn’t allowed under Kentucky law. Here’s what to know about fireworks laws and safety tips in the Bluegrass State ahead of Independence Day.
Can you set off fireworks in Kentucky?
Yes. As long as you live in a place where local ordinances don’t prohibit it, according to the Kentucky State Fire Marshal’s website.
Are fireworks legal in Louisville?
In Louisville or Jefferson County, larger display fireworks are not legal due to a local law. Some consumer products that don’t leave the ground, such as sparklers, are allowed.
If the cautionary label on the firework has the words “explosive,” “emits flaming pellets,” “flaming balls,” “firecracker,” “report” or “rocket,” it is automatically a no-go, according to the Louisville-Jefferson County Code of Ordinances.
But, smaller ones like sparklers, cylindrical or cone fountains, wheels and ground spinners are legal. Still, don’t let the size fool you − they can burn up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Learn more: Check out these 4th of July events taking place across Kentucky
How to use fireworks safely
The state fire marshal suggests following the following advice when using fireworks:
- Use fireworks outdoors.
- Obey local laws.
- Keep a bucket of water or a working water hose nearby.
- Use fireworks as intended and avoid altering them or combining them.
- Never relight “dud” fireworks. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
- Spectators should keep a safe distance from the person lighting the firework (the individual lighting it should wear safety glasses).
- Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Have a “designated adult operator.”
- Do not use homemade fireworks or illegal explosives.
- Report illegal explosives to the fire or police department in your community.
- Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
- Read and follow all instructions on the label.
Former Courier Journal reporter Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez contributed. Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.
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