KSR Today: Lexington SC comes up short in the Commonwealth Cup

Good morning, folks! Guess what? We’re in for another scorcher today across the Bluegrass State. That Midwest corn sweat is a real thing. Are you tackling the heat head-on with a day by the pool and at the grill? Or are you sitting comfortably on the couch with the AC blasting in every room? I’m thankfully in the latter group. The corn sweat can’t catch me inside.

It feels like we’re actually hitting a lull in the offseason, too. This month has been filled with seemingly endless content. From basketball recruiting trips, SEC Football Media Days, La Familia in The Basketball Tournament, player and coach interviews, and everything in between, it’s been a busy July. But all of that is behind us now. The start of the college football season is less than 30 days away — we just have to get there first.

None of this means we won’t have plenty to discuss throughout this hot Sunday, though. Let’s go ahead and dive into this morning’s top news and notes. Stay cool today, Big Blue Nation.

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Lexington SC fell to Louisville FC in Commonwealth Cup

It was a classic Lexington vs. Louisville rivalry on the pitch last night in central Kentucky, one that nearly ended in favor of the good guys, too. Lexington SC and Louisville FC were scoreless going into the final minutes before Jacob Greene put one through the back of the net in the 87th minute to put Lexington ahead 1-0. But the KSR curse never fails. Almost immediately after Drew Franklin celebrated Lexington SC’s lead online, Louisville responded with two goals in extra time to steal a 2-1 win.

The match marked the fourth round of the USL Jägermeister Cup, and the second leg of the Commonwealth Cup. Louisville FC also won the first meeting back in May. And while Saturday’s end result wasn’t what the home fans had hoped for, over 8,000 people still attended the in-state matchup at Lexington SC Stadium, selling out the venue. Otega Oweh even popped by in the new icicle jersey.

Otega Oweh is here for the Commonwealth Cup pic.twitter.com/3DnbQRUtJr

— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) July 26, 2025

Josh Hines-Allen among NFL’s top 100 players

He checks in at No. 63, actually, as the NFL has been listing off its top 100 players ahead of the 2025 season. Josh Hines-Allen is set to enter year seven in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars this season after having signed a five-year extension worth $150 million last offseason. In 2024, the former ‘Cat recorded 45 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and 19 QB hits. This was a year after Hines-Allen recorded a career-high 17.5 sacks.

However, this individual honor came at a particularly difficult time. Hines-Allen’s young son, Wesley, has been diagnosed with leukemia. He and his wife shared the news earlier this week, saying they learned of the diagnosis seven months ago. They’ve launched a season-long campaign called “Four One For Hope”, which you can support by clicking here.

The dreaded six-letter word that no parent ever wants to hear: Cancer.

Seven months ago, our world stopped when our son, Wesley, was diagnosed with leukemia.

As parents, we've held each other through tears we didn't know we had, watching our little boy fight the biggest battle… pic.twitter.com/KN33gTTaRT

— Joshua Hines-Allen (@JoshHinesAllen) July 25, 2025

TyTy Washington is headed to LA

TyTy Washington will have another chance of making it in the big leagues this season. ESPN’s Shams Charania reports Washington has inked a one-year deal to play for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2025-26. Once a late first-round draft pick in 2022 out of Kentucky, the 6-foot-3 point guard has appeared in just 58 games across his first three seasons with the Rockets, Bucks, and Suns, averaging 3.3 points in 10.5 minutes per outing.

Washington’s youth (still only 23) will be welcomed on a Clippers team that is expected to feature one of the oldest and most top-heavy rosters in recent memory.

Da’Ron Parks will not be a ‘Cat

Kentucky made Da’Ron Parks a priority 2026 target on the recruiting trail, but the four-star offensive lineman committed to Florida State on Saturday. The 6-foot-4, 360-pound prospect, who officially visited Lexington in June, picked the Seminoles over Auburn, Kentucky, and Ohio State. Kentucky will enter the 2025 season with two offensive line commits in the 2026 class: guard Tyreek Jemison and tackle Cameron Miller. Below is the Wildcats’ entire 2026 recruiting class.

Player	Position	High School	Ranking
Matt Ponatoski	QB (6-2, 190)	Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller	4-star (No. 242 overall)
Messiah Tilson	S (6-2, 165)	Rockford (Ill.) Guilford	4-star (No. 324 overall)
Jordan Crutchfield	CB (6-2, 195)	Vero Beach (Fla.) High	4-star (No. 390 overall)
Denairius Gray	WR (6-1, 170)	Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna	3-star (No. 402 overall)
Dallas Dickerson	WR (6-1, 180)	Bogart (Ga.) North Oconee	High 3-star (No. 537 overall)
Tyreek Jemison	iOL (6-5, 330)	Dallas (Ga.) Paulding County	High 3-star (No. 562 overall)
Lincoln Watkins	TE (6-4, 225)	Port Huron (Mich.) Northern	3-star (No. 609 overall)
Garrett Witherington	DL (6-4, 290)	Birmingham (Ala.) Briarwood Christian	3-star (No. 818 overall)
Isaiah McMillian	CB (6-0, 170)	Katy (Texas) High	3-star (No. 853 overall)
Ben Duncum	DL (6-5, 250)	Austin (Texas) Lake Travis	3-star (No. 894 overall)
Davis McCray	WR (6-2, 190)	San Antonio (Texas) Cornerstone Christian	3-star (No. 920 overall)
Prince Jean	WR (6-0, 170)	Valdosta (Ga.) High	3-star (No. 943 overall)
Cameron Miller	T (6-5, 310)	Hammond (Ind.) Morton	3-star (No. 963 overall)
Max Mohring	LB (6-3, 215)	Malvern (Pa.) Prep	3-star (No. 1,033 overall)
Delvecchio “Deuce” Alston II	RB (6-0, 200)	Trussville (Ala.) Hewitt-Trussville	3-star (No. 1,210 overall)

A positive update on Chris Oats

Former Kentucky football player Chris Oats continues to hit milestones on his road to recovery. On Friday, he posted that he was able to take his first unassisted step since suffering a medical incident in 2020 that had him bound to a wheelchair for the first few years of his rehab. It was around this time last year that he was standing on his own. Progress is being made every single day. You can still support Oats on his journey by clicking the link here.

First Step✅✅✅ pic.twitter.com/6HBYY1ZMkF

— DueceDuece (@ChristopherOats) July 25, 2025