The Latest: Giants star catcher Posey opts of playing  

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

San Francisco Giants star catcher Buster Posey is the latest big-name player to skip this season because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

Posey announced his decision on Friday. He says his family finalized the adoption of identical twin girls this week. The babies were born prematurely and Posey said after consultations with his wife and doctor he decided to opt out of the season. Posey had missed three practices while dealing with a personal issue.

Posey joins other big-name players like Dodgers pitcher David Price, Washington first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, Colorado's Ian Desmond and Arizonna pitcher Mike Leake in deciding not to take part in the 60-game season this year.

The Red Sox and Blue Jays will play two exhibition games at Fenway Park before baseball's delayed regular-season opener.

Toronto will visit Boston on July 21 and 22 before heading down to Tampa Bay for its opener. The Red Sox are scheduled to open at home against the Baltimore Orioles on July 24.

More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

<h2>The Latest: Giants star catcher Posey opts of playing </h2>By The Associated Press undefinedThe Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___San Francisco Giants star catcher Buster Posey is the latest big-name player to skip this season because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.Posey announced his decision on Friday. He says his family finalized the adoption of identical twin girls this week. The babies were born prematurely and Posey said after consultations with his wife and doctor he decided to opt out of the season. Posey had missed three practices while dealing with a personal issue.Posey joins other big-name players like Dodgers pitcher David Price, Washington first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, Colorado's Ian Desmond and Arizonna pitcher Mike Leake in deciding not to take part in the 60-game season this year.-- Josh Dubow reporting.___The Red Sox and Blue Jays will play two exhibition games at Fenway Park before baseball's delayed regular-season opener.Toronto will visit Boston on July 21 and 22 before heading down to Tampa Bay for its opener. The Red Sox are scheduled to open at home against the Baltimore Orioles on July 24.___More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Friday Mid-day Sports Update

&nbsp; Wichita State head coach&nbsp;Gregg Marshall&nbsp;and Kansas State's Bruce Weber have agreed to a four-game series, beginning in 2021, and will also stage a special charity exhibition game this October. The exhibition is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24 at INTRUST Bank Arena in downtown Wichita with proceeds benefitting Kansas residents affected by COVID-19. Details will be announced at a later date. The new series begins with a Dec. 5, 2021 matchup at INTRUST Bank Arena and continues with stops at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan (2022), the Sprint Center in Kansas City (2023) and Charles Koch Arena (2024). "The conversation started with the charity exhibition and trying to do some good for the people of Kansas, but then it grew from there," Marshall said. "Coach Weber and I have been wanting to rekindle this rivalry for a while now, and the timing is finally right for both sides. It's an easy trip, a fun experience for our fans and another great basketball test against a quality Big 12 program." Wichita State President Dr. Jay Golden said: "A series like this creates a strong and fun rivalry that enhances the student-athlete experience and deepens our ties with Kansas State," says Wichita State President Dr. Jay Golden. "I look forward to rooting on our Shockers!" The schools -- separated by less than 150 miles -- played a closed-door scrimmage during the 2009 preseason but haven't met in public since Dec. 10, 2003 when K-State nipped the Shockers, 54-50, at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats have hosted four games at INTRUST Bank Arena against various opponents but last faced the Shockers in Wichita on Dec. 14, 2002 at the old Kansas Coliseum.&nbsp; The Wildcats' 2024 visit to Charles Koch Arena will be their first foray into the Roundhouse since Nov. 11, 2000. The 2023 date in Kansas City would mark Wichita State's first appearance at Sprint Center since winning the 2013 CBE Classic. K-State leads 20-11 all-time in a series that dates back to 1934. Charity Exhibition: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 – Wichita (INTRUST Bank Arena) Four-Game Series: Dec. 5, 2021 – Wichita (INTRUST Bank Arena) Dec. 3, 2022 – Manhattan (Bramlage Coliseum) Dec. 22, 2023 – Kansas City, Mo. (Sprint Center) Dec. 7, 2024 – Wichita (Charles Koch Arena)&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp; Wichita State head coach&nbsp;Gregg Marshall&nbsp;and Kansas State's Bruce Weber have agreed to a four-game series, beginning in 2021, and will also stage a special charity exhibition game this October. The exhibition is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24 at INTRUST Bank Arena in downtown Wichita with proceeds benefitting Kansas residents affected by COVID-19. Details will be announced at a later date. The new series begins with a Dec. 5, 2021 matchup at INTRUST Bank Arena and continues with stops at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan (2022), the Sprint Center in Kansas City (2023) and Charles Koch Arena (2024). "The conversation started with the charity exhibition and trying to do some good for the people of Kansas, but then it grew from there," Marshall said. "Coach Weber and I have been wanting to rekindle this rivalry for a while now, and the timing is finally right for both sides. It's an easy trip, a fun experience for our fans and another great basketball test against a quality Big 12 program." Wichita State President Dr. Jay Golden said: "A series like this creates a strong and fun rivalry that enhances the student-athlete experience and deepens our ties with Kansas State," says Wichita State President Dr. Jay Golden. "I look forward to rooting on our Shockers!" The schools -- separated by less than 150 miles -- played a closed-door scrimmage during the 2009 preseason but haven't met in public since Dec. 10, 2003 when K-State nipped the Shockers, 54-50, at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats have hosted four games at INTRUST Bank Arena against various opponents but last faced the Shockers in Wichita on Dec. 14, 2002 at the old Kansas Coliseum.&nbsp; The Wildcats' 2024 visit to Charles Koch Arena will be their first foray into the Roundhouse since Nov. 11, 2000. The 2023 date in Kansas City would mark Wichita State's first appearance at Sprint Center since winning the 2013 CBE Classic. K-State leads 20-11 all-time in a series that dates back to 1934. Charity Exhibition: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 – Wichita (INTRUST Bank Arena) Four-Game Series: Dec. 5, 2021 – Wichita (INTRUST Bank Arena) Dec. 3, 2022 – Manhattan (Bramlage Coliseum) Dec. 22, 2023 – Kansas City, Mo. (Sprint Center) Dec. 7, 2024 – Wichita (Charles Koch Arena)&nbsp;&nbsp;

Shockers, Wildcats Revive Hoop Series After 17 Years

AUDIO: Eagle Radio Sports for Friday

STEVE CARPENTER - HutchCC Sports Information

Despite a trying athletics and academic season, Hutchinson Community College landed 40 student-athletes on the 2019-20 NJCAA All-Academic teams, the national office released on Friday.

Sixteen Blue Dragons earned first-team NJCAA All-Academic honors. Criteria for a first-team selection is a 4.00 grade-point average.

To earn a spot on the second team, a student-athlete must have a GPA between 3.80 and 3.99. Eight Blue Dragons earned second-team honors. Sixteen Blue Dragons earned third-team all-academic status, which is a GPA of 3.60-3.79.

In all, there were 42 All-Academic award winners wearing Blue Dragons uniforms in 2019-29. Two student-athletes – Megan Miller and Lisayo Ewoi were named NJCAA All-Academic in both cross country and track and field.

Overall, there were 9,555 student-athletes honored by the NJCAA for their academic success this past season. Of that group, 2,427 student-athletes were first-team honorees.

The following is a list of Blue Dragon student-athletes to earn 2019-20 NJCAA All-Academic honors:

First Team Zoe Alberti – Women's Track and Field Samarah Bailey – Softball Jake Brown – Baseball Tyler Brown – Men's Basketball Marah Franke – Women's Soccer Jordan Galliher – Softball Matthew Melchor – Men's Track and Field Hannah Melton – Volleyball Taylan Mendenhall – Women's Track and Field Megan Miller – Women's Cross Country/Women's Track and Field Dianne Rubio – Women's Soccer Macy Smith – Women's Soccer Chiara Soergel – Women's Soccer Guthrie Turner – Men's Track and Field Lexi Williams - Softball Lauren Willson – Volleyball

Second Team Camila Espejo – Volleyball Devin Marx – Men's Track and Field Chidi Ogbonna – Football Will Reetz – Baseball Maryssa Rollin – Softball Samantha Vaughn – Women's Soccer Alexis Way – Softball Ashley Wilson – Softball

Third Team Jenna Boese – Women's Soccer Katy Commons – Women's Track and Field Aspyn Conner – Softball Tyler Delong – Baseball Katelyn Elstun – Volleyball Lisayo Ewoi – Women's Cross Country/Women's Track and Field Allison Martin – Women's Track and Field Britton Mulhern – Baseball Jayma O'Quinn – Women's Track and Field Bailey Pennycuff – Softball Rebecca Raymundo – Track and Field Drew Reetz – Baseball Matthew Schrag – Men's Cross Country Brooklyn Terstriep – Women's Track and Field Jenna Thorne – Volleyball Naomi Waithira – Women's Soccer

STEVE CARPENTER - HutchCC Sports InformationDespite a trying athletics and academic season, Hutchinson Community College landed 40 student-athletes on the 2019-20 NJCAA All-Academic teams, the national office released on Friday.Sixteen Blue Dragons earned first-team NJCAA All-Academic honors. Criteria for a first-team selection is a 4.00 grade-point average.To earn a spot on the second team, a student-athlete must have a GPA between 3.80 and 3.99. Eight Blue Dragons earned second-team honors. Sixteen Blue Dragons earned third-team all-academic status, which is a GPA of 3.60-3.79.In all, there were 42 All-Academic award winners wearing Blue Dragons uniforms in 2019-29. Two student-athletes – Megan Miller and Lisayo Ewoi were named NJCAA All-Academic in both cross country and track and field.Overall, there were 9,555 student-athletes honored by the NJCAA for their academic success this past season. Of that group, 2,427 student-athletes were first-team honorees.The following is a list of Blue Dragon student-athletes to earn 2019-20 NJCAA All-Academic honors:<h2>2019-20 NJCAA ALL-ACADEMIC TEAMS</h2>First Team Zoe Alberti – Women's Track and Field Samarah Bailey – Softball Jake Brown – Baseball Tyler Brown – Men's Basketball Marah Franke – Women's Soccer Jordan Galliher – Softball Matthew Melchor – Men's Track and Field Hannah Melton – Volleyball Taylan Mendenhall – Women's Track and Field Megan Miller – Women's Cross Country/Women's Track and Field Dianne Rubio – Women's Soccer Macy Smith – Women's Soccer Chiara Soergel – Women's Soccer Guthrie Turner – Men's Track and Field Lexi Williams - Softball Lauren Willson – VolleyballSecond Team Camila Espejo – Volleyball Devin Marx – Men's Track and Field Chidi Ogbonna – Football Will Reetz – Baseball Maryssa Rollin – Softball Samantha Vaughn – Women's Soccer Alexis Way – Softball Ashley Wilson – SoftballThird Team Jenna Boese – Women's Soccer Katy Commons – Women's Track and Field Aspyn Conner – Softball Tyler Delong – Baseball Katelyn Elstun – Volleyball Lisayo Ewoi – Women's Cross Country/Women's Track and Field Allison Martin – Women's Track and Field Britton Mulhern – Baseball Jayma O'Quinn – Women's Track and Field Bailey Pennycuff – Softball Rebecca Raymundo – Track and Field Drew Reetz – Baseball Matthew Schrag – Men's Cross Country Brooklyn Terstriep – Women's Track and Field Jenna Thorne – Volleyball Naomi Waithira – Women's Soccer

40 Blue Dragon Student Athletes earn NJCAA All-Academic awards

BROOKLYN, N.Y.&nbsp;– Former Kansas State forward&nbsp;Michael Beasley&nbsp;has joined the Brooklyn Nets as a Substitute Player for the reminder of the 2019-20 NBA season, which is scheduled to resume later this month at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. Beasley will playing for his eighth NBA franchise in a professional career that spans 11 seasons and includes stints with the Miami Heat (2008-10; 2013-15), Minnesota Timberwolves (2010-12), Phoenix Suns (2012-13), Houston Rockets (2015-16), Milwaukee Bucks (2016-17), New York Knicks (2017-18) and the L.A. Lakers (2018-19). He has played in 609 games in his NBA career, averaging 12.4 points on 46.5 percent shooting, including 34.9 percent from 3-point range, with 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 22.8 minutes per game. Beasley will be returning to the NBA for the first time since February 2019, as he played in 26 games for the Lakers during the 2018-19 season. He most recently played professionally in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) for the Guangdong Southern Tigers in 2019, averaging 22.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.2 blocks and 1.2 steals in helping the squad to the 2019 CBA Championship. The Nets currently sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 30-34 record. They will play three preseason games (New Orleans, San Antonio and Utah) – starting Wednesday, July 22 – before officially opening the restart on Friday, July 31 against and the Orlando Magic at 1:30 p.m., CT at the HP Field House. They are scheduled to play eight regular season games before a possible playoff berth. Although former Wildcat&nbsp;Jerry Venable&nbsp;was drafted by the then New York Nets in the 1970 ABA Draft, Beasley is the first Wildcat to play with the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets franchise. Beasley will be joined in the NBA restart by Wildcat alums&nbsp;Wes Iwundu&nbsp;(2013-17) of the Orlando Magic and&nbsp;Rodney McGruder&nbsp;(2009-13) of the L.A. Clippers. Perhaps the greatest one-year player in school history, Beasley became the 11th and most recent first team All-American and the first Wildcat to be the consensus National Freshman of the Year during the 2007-08 campaign, as he posted the third-most points (866) and second-most rebounds (408) by a freshman in NCAA history. The recipient of the 2008 Pete Newell Big Man of the Year given annually to the nation's top Big Man by the NABC, he became just the second consensus first team All-American in school history and the first since&nbsp;Bob Boozer&nbsp;earned the recognition in back-to-back seasons in 1958 and 1959. Beasley led the nation in 40-point games (3), 30-point, 10-rebound (13), 20-point, 10-rebound games (22), rebounding average (12.4 rpg.) and double-doubles (28). He broke the then NCAA freshman mark for double-doubles and was just the 11th player in NCAA Division I history to post 28 or more double-doubles in a single season. He set 30 school records and 17 Big 12 marks, including single-season points (866), scoring average (26.2 ppg.), 30-point games (13), 20-point games (26), double-doubles (28) and rebounds (408). Beasley became the second-highest draft pick in school history, as he was selected with the second pick by the Miami Heat in the 2008 NBA Draft. Beasley led K-State to a 21-win campaign and their first NCAA Tournament in 12 seasons, as the Wildcats upset 6-seed USC, 80-67, in the first round before falling to 3-seed Wisconsin, 72-55, in the second round. The win over the Trojans was the first by the Wildcat in the NCAA Tournament since 1988.&nbsp;&nbsp;

BROOKLYN, N.Y.&nbsp;– Former Kansas State forward&nbsp;Michael Beasley&nbsp;has joined the Brooklyn Nets as a Substitute Player for the reminder of the 2019-20 NBA season, which is scheduled to resume later this month at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. Beasley will playing for his eighth NBA franchise in a professional career that spans 11 seasons and includes stints with the Miami Heat (2008-10; 2013-15), Minnesota Timberwolves (2010-12), Phoenix Suns (2012-13), Houston Rockets (2015-16), Milwaukee Bucks (2016-17), New York Knicks (2017-18) and the L.A. Lakers (2018-19). He has played in 609 games in his NBA career, averaging 12.4 points on 46.5 percent shooting, including 34.9 percent from 3-point range, with 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 22.8 minutes per game. Beasley will be returning to the NBA for the first time since February 2019, as he played in 26 games for the Lakers during the 2018-19 season. He most recently played professionally in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) for the Guangdong Southern Tigers in 2019, averaging 22.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.2 blocks and 1.2 steals in helping the squad to the 2019 CBA Championship. The Nets currently sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 30-34 record. They will play three preseason games (New Orleans, San Antonio and Utah) – starting Wednesday, July 22 – before officially opening the restart on Friday, July 31 against and the Orlando Magic at 1:30 p.m., CT at the HP Field House. They are scheduled to play eight regular season games before a possible playoff berth. Although former Wildcat&nbsp;Jerry Venable&nbsp;was drafted by the then New York Nets in the 1970 ABA Draft, Beasley is the first Wildcat to play with the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets franchise. Beasley will be joined in the NBA restart by Wildcat alums&nbsp;Wes Iwundu&nbsp;(2013-17) of the Orlando Magic and&nbsp;Rodney McGruder&nbsp;(2009-13) of the L.A. Clippers. Perhaps the greatest one-year player in school history, Beasley became the 11th and most recent first team All-American and the first Wildcat to be the consensus National Freshman of the Year during the 2007-08 campaign, as he posted the third-most points (866) and second-most rebounds (408) by a freshman in NCAA history. The recipient of the 2008 Pete Newell Big Man of the Year given annually to the nation's top Big Man by the NABC, he became just the second consensus first team All-American in school history and the first since&nbsp;Bob Boozer&nbsp;earned the recognition in back-to-back seasons in 1958 and 1959. Beasley led the nation in 40-point games (3), 30-point, 10-rebound (13), 20-point, 10-rebound games (22), rebounding average (12.4 rpg.) and double-doubles (28). He broke the then NCAA freshman mark for double-doubles and was just the 11th player in NCAA Division I history to post 28 or more double-doubles in a single season. He set 30 school records and 17 Big 12 marks, including single-season points (866), scoring average (26.2 ppg.), 30-point games (13), 20-point games (26), double-doubles (28) and rebounds (408). Beasley became the second-highest draft pick in school history, as he was selected with the second pick by the Miami Heat in the 2008 NBA Draft. Beasley led K-State to a 21-win campaign and their first NCAA Tournament in 12 seasons, as the Wildcats upset 6-seed USC, 80-67, in the first round before falling to 3-seed Wisconsin, 72-55, in the second round. The win over the Trojans was the first by the Wildcat in the NCAA Tournament since 1988.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Beasley Joins Brooklyn Nets for NBA Restart

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Sunflower State Games has canceled&nbsp;30 of its 40 events&nbsp;this year, including all indoor sports.

Activities where participants can practice social distancing will still go on. This weekend, that's baseball, tennis, orienteering, sporting clays, and golf. Sporting clays continues next weekend July 18 and 19, along with sand volleyball, soccer, the adventure race, and disc golf.

Popular events like the 5K and 10K run, and basketball tournaments are a no-go.

“We’re hopeful that some of the other sports we’ve had to cancel that we’ll just be able to reschedule them in the fall, but we’ll just keep evaluating the situation and just decide as we go what we can do,” Cassie Criger with SSG said.

For all events, anyone not on the field of play must wear a mask, and athletes are asked to bring their own water bottles.

"Our organization will follow the guidelines and advice from partner venues as it pertains to play or no play status. As of now, the 2020 Sunflower State Games and 2020 Kansas Senior Games events will go on as planned with an abbreivated schedule.  For the most recent updates on sport cancellations please visit the 2020 Sport Page you are interested in competing in".

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Sunflower State Games has canceled&nbsp;30 of its 40 events&nbsp;this year, including all indoor sports.Activities where participants can practice social distancing will still go on. This weekend, that's baseball, tennis, orienteering, sporting clays, and golf. Sporting clays continues next weekend July 18 and 19, along with sand volleyball, soccer, the adventure race, and disc golf.Popular events like the 5K and 10K run, and basketball tournaments are a no-go.“We’re hopeful that some of the other sports we’ve had to cancel that we’ll just be able to reschedule them in the fall, but we’ll just keep evaluating the situation and just decide as we go what we can do,” Cassie Criger with SSG said.For all events, anyone not on the field of play must wear a mask, and athletes are asked to bring their own water bottles."Our organization will follow the guidelines and advice from partner venues as it pertains to play or no play status. As of now, the 2020 Sunflower State Games and 2020 Kansas Senior Games events will go on as planned with an abbreivated schedule. For the most recent updates on sport cancellations please visit the 2020 Sport Page you are interested in competing in".

Sunflower State Games to start Friday with limited events

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

UNDATED (AP) — The Big Ten Conference won't play nonconference games in football and a handful of other sports this fall because of the coronavirus pandemic. The league also warned that it was "prepared not to play" at all to keep its athletes safe. The decision affects more than 40 games, including some marquee matchups like Notre Dame against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field. The announcement came a day after the Ivy League called off all fall sports. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith says he is "very concerned" about the season.

Court filing alleges $400K paid to Williamson family in '18

UNDATED (AP) — The legal fight over NBA rookie Zion Williamson's endorsement potential now includes an allegation his family received $400,000 from a marketing agency before playing at Duke. Prime Sports Marketing and company president Gina Ford filed a lawsuit last summer in Florida, accusing Williamson and the agency now representing him of breach of contract. Williamson had filed a lawsuit in North Carolina to terminate a five-year contract with Prime Sports.

In court filings Thursday in North Carolina, Ford's attorneys included a sworn affidavit from a California man who said the head of a Canadian-based firm called Maximum Management Group (MMG) told him he paid Williamson's family for his commitment to sign with MMG once he left Duke for the NBA.

Williamson's attorney says those documents are "fraudulent."

The documents include a marketing agreement signed by Williamson with MMG from May 2019, a December 2019 "letter of declaration" signed by Williamson and his stepfather agreeing to pay $500,000 to MMG president Slavko Duric for "repayment of a loan" from October 2018, and a copy of Williamson's South Carolina driver's license.

— Full-scale practices inside the NBA bubble at the Disney complex have started. The Orlando Magic became the first team to formally return to the floor. By the close of business, all 22 teams participating in the restart were to be checked into their hotel and beginning their isolation from the rest of the world for what will be several weeks at least. And by Saturday, all teams should have practiced at least once.

— The Brooklyn Nets filled one of the openings on their roster by signing veteran Michael Beasley as a substitute player for the remainder of the season. The Nets will resume play without Spencer Dinwiddie and DeAndre Jordan after they tested positive for the coronavirus. They are also without Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Wilson Chandler. Beasley was the No. 2 pick in the 2008 draft and has averaged 12.4 points over 11 seasons. He hasn't played in the NBA since appearing for the Lakers in February 2019.

MLB releases 2021 schedule; all 30 teams to open on April 1

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball will open the 2021 season on April 1 and hopes to have every team play its first game on the same day for the first time since 1968.

The league released the full schedule Thursday with this year's 60-game regular season schedule scheduled to begin July 23 as clubs set to play only division foes and regional interleague opponents — AL East vs. NL East, AL Central vs. NL Central, AL West vs. NL West — to limit travel.

Clubs will resume full intraleague schedules in 2021, and interleague play will again align regionally.

The New York Mets will host the cross-town Yankees at Citi Field on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the first time the Subway Series will take place on Sept. 11. The Yankees will host the Mets during Fourth of July weekend.

Atlanta will host the 91st All-Star Game on July 13 at Truist Park. It's Atlanta's first All-Star Game since hosting in 2000 at Turner Field.

— Baseball has its answer to World Cup soccer's penalty kicks, NFL overtimes or NHL shootouts. And it figures to stir just as much debate as all those other forms of tiebreakers. Major League Baseball will start each extra inning this season by putting a runner on second base. The minor leagues have used this extra-inning format since 2018. MLB is experimenting with the rule this year in part to prevent marathon games from causing long-term damage to pitching staffs in a pandemic-shortened season.

 — Anthony Rendon mostly spent the first few months of his seven-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels changing his daughters' diapers and throwing a tennis ball at a wall. The $245 million third baseman is more than ready to get to work earning his riches, and the World Series winner doesn't think it will take long to get back into championship form. Rendon is getting to know his teammates again after his first spring with the Angels was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic before he even got a chance to play in Anaheim. The most coveted hitter on the free agent market even got his World Series ring this week.

— Cody Bellinger is ready for whatever baseball's shortened 60-game season brings. The All-Star slugger is looking to pick up where he left off after a stellar performance for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019. The reigning NL MVP batted .305 with 47 homers and 115 RBIs for the NL West champions last year. He says the season figures to be "a once-in-a-lifetime thing" because of the changes brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. 

— Cleveland Indians outfielder Franmil Reyes (FRAHN'-meel RAY'-uhs) has apologized for putting himself and his teammates at risk by not wearing a mask or practicing social distancing at a weekend holiday party. Reyes says he's "learned from it and it won't happen again." The club kept Reyes away from its training camp after he was spotted on social media attending a Fourth of July get-together. Reyes had to be re-tested for the new coronavirus and cleared by Indians medical personnel before he was allowed to practice. He was acquired last year in a trade with the San Diego Padres. 

— J.T. Realmuto isn't worried about his contract situation. The All-Star catcher and the Philadelphia Phillies had preliminary discussions about a long-term deal before the coronavirus pandemic but talks between the two sides haven't progressed since baseball returned last week. Realmuto is eligible for free agency after the season unless the Phillies sign him before he can test the market. He's expected to seek at least $20 million per season. Last week, Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said the pandemic has changed the landscape of baseball. Lost revenue could affect salaries around the majors going forward.

Big Ten to limit fall sports to conference games 

UNDATED (AP) — The Big Ten Conference says it will not play nonconference games in football or several other sports this fall because of the coronavirus pandemic. The league cited medical advice in reaching its decision, the biggest yet by a power conference.

Besides football, the sports affected include men's and women's cross country, field hockey, men's and women's soccer and women's volleyball.

The announcement came a day after the Ivy League Conference canceled sporting events until at least January.

In other developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic:

— The Atlantic Coast Conference is putting fall competitions on hold until at least Sept. 1 due to the coronavirus pandemic, a move that won't affect football as of now. The league announced the decision Thursday impacting non-revenue sports such as soccer, volleyball, field hockey and cross country. North Carolina State and Louisville meet on Sept. 2 in the first football game involving any league teams. Schools won't be able to hold exhibitions or regular-season competition before that date, and it will be up to the schools to determine whether to reschedule any affected events. But the ACC isn't barring teams from holding workouts and preseason practices "in anticipation of a fall season."

— North Carolina State says five people tied to Wolfpack sports have tested positive for COVID-19. Athletics spokesman Fred Demarest says those positives came after the school tested 315 athletes, coaches and staff starting May 29. That's a positive rate of roughly 1.6%.

— NFL teams will be prohibited from post-game interactions within 6 feet of each other so players won't be allowed to exchange jerseys after games as part of the guidelines to help limit the spread of the coronavirus. Players and coaches are not required to wear masks, but everyone else on the sideline is. The league and the players' union still haven't agreed on testing and screening protocols.

— The plan to have fans at the World Golf Championships event in Memphis has been scrapped. Officials announced Thursday that the FedEx St. Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind will not have any spectators due to what they call "an abundance of caution." Ticket purchases will be refunded automatically.

— China says it won't stage any international sports for the rest of the year, apart from trials for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing and a neighboring city. The order from the General Administration of Sports affects at least six WTA tennis events, including the WTA Finals in Shenzhen in November. China also has four ATP tournaments lined up. Shanghai was also due to host two big golf events, the men's HSBC Champions, a World Golf Championship event two weeks after the LPGA Shanghai. 

— The spokesman for the Tokyo Olympics expects the postponed games to go ahead in 2021 despite a recent poll in Japan in which 77% of respondents said they did not believe the games could be held next year. The poll by the Japan News Network said only 17% thought it could be held next year in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

— CBS will get an early start on its Champions League deal by showing games next month when the pandemic-delayed competition resumes. The rights to the rest of this Champions League season and all of next season became available last month when Turner opted out of its 2018-21 deal for exclusive English language rights in the United States. This season's competition resumes on Aug. 7 and ends with an eight-team knockout tournament in Lisbon, Portugal. The final is on Aug. 23.

— A horse named for Dr. Anthony Fauci has won his first race at Keeneland. The 2-year-old colt won by a length Thursday as the heavy favorite against 11 rivals in the $70,000 race at the Lexington, Kentucky, track. Fauci ran 5 1/2 furlongs on turf in 58.65 seconds under jockey Tyler Gaffalione and paid $4.20 to win. Fauci finished second in his career debut at New York's Belmont Park last month.

— World champion sprinter Noah Lyles was the star attraction in a rare track meet in 2020 held on Thursday that didn't go quite to plan. Lyles lined up in the 200 meters on a Florida track while two opponents started simultaneously in Switzerland and the Netherlands. It was the marquee race of storied Swiss meet Weltklasse which synchronized athletes competing in seven different stadiums across Europe and the United States. Turned out 200 meters for the others was only a 185-meter race for Lyles. And the clock that stopped at 18.90 seconds wasn't a world record for Lyles ahead of Usain Bolt's iconic 19.19. Lyles later tweeted his starting block was placed in the wrong lane.

— The imagery evoked by Dana White's crazy idea for holding mixed martial arts fights on a tropical island was undeniably intoxicating. A few months later, the project that came to be known as Fight Island is real and ready for competition. And while Fight Island is not exactly the idyllic scene evoked by its name, the octagon inside an air-conditioned arena on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island also sits inside a bubble that seems highly unlikely to burst. Fight Island will host four UFC events in 14 days, starting with three championship fights at UFC 251 this weekend.

Bou scores lone goal and Revolution down Impact 1-0

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Gustavo Bou scored in the 56th minute to give the New England Revolution a 1-0 victory over the Montreal Impact in the MLS is Back tournament Thursday night. Bou maneuvered atop the penalty area before a blast that goalkeeper Clement Diop couldn't stop in the match played without fans at ESPN's Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World. Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner preserved the victory in stoppage time with a big save on Ballou Tabla's curling shot from distance. 

— Nashville SC has withdrawn from Major League Soccer's MLS is Back tournament in Florida after nine players tested positive for the coronavirus. Nashville is the second team to withdraw from the tournament. FC Dallas had to pull out after 10 players and a coach tested positive for COVID-19. The league is revising its schedule to reflect Nashville's withdrawal. The tournament started Wednesday.

Tiger Woods to return next week at Muirfield Village

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) — Tiger Woods announced Thursday on Twitter he will play next week at the Memorial, a tournament he has won a record five times, as he goes after his record 83rd career victory on the PGA Tour.

It will end a five-month break from competition for Woods. He last played on Feb. 16 at the Genesis Invitational, where he shot 76-77 at chilly Riviera to finish alone in last place.

— Collin Morikawa had his first forced weekend off when he missed the cut two weeks ago for the first time in his pro career. He bounced back in a big way. Morikawa made a strong debut at Muirfield Village with a 7-under 65 for a one-shot lead over Adam Hadwin. It was a quiet day of work with no fans at the course Jack Nicklaus built. Phil Mickelson made noise early until a 41 on the back nine left him in danger of missing another cut. This is the first of two straight events at Muirfield Village.

- Dylan Frittelli says it was hard not to feel like an outcast at the Workday Charity Open. But at least he was playing. He was part of the COVID-19 grouping with Nick Watney and Denny McCarthy. All three tested positive for the coronavirus. They all self-isolated for 10 days or more. And then they all tested positive again. Under CDC guidelines the PGA Tour is following, they were cleared to play even with a positive test. Tour medical advisers says nasal tests can pick up the virus, but after 10 days it's no longer believed to be contagious.

Austin Cindric wins NASCAR Xfinity race at Kentucky Speedway

SPARTA, Ky. (AP) — Austin Cindric won the first of two NASCAR Xfinity Series races at Kentucky Speedway, charging past Chase Briscoe on an overtime restart Thursday night for his first victory of the season and first on an oval. Cindric spent most of the first two stages chasing Noah Gragson, the pole-sitter who seemed poised to dominate all three segments. Cindric then took charge on a series of restarts in Team Penske's No. 22 Ford Mustang. On the last one, he went around Briscoe on the outside and pulled away before a last-lap wreck ended the race. The 21-year-old Cindric had eight top-10s on ovals before breaking through on the 1.5-mile Kentucky layout. His only other series victories came last year on road courses at Watkins Glen and Mid-Ohio. 

Ruff to become Devils coach, Fitzgerald stays GM

UNDATED (AP) — The New Jersey Devils have hired veteran coach Lindy Ruff to take over one of the NHL's youngest teams. Ruff replaces interim coach Alain Nasreddine (ah-LAYN' NAZ'-reh-deen), who guided the Devils to a 19-16-8 record after replacing John Hynes. 

The 60-year-old Ruff had been an assistant coach with the New York Rangers. He previously coached the Dallas Stars and the Buffalo Sabres, leading the Sabres to the Stanley Cup Final in 1999.

New Jersey also removed the interim tag from Tom Fitzgerald's title as general manager. Fitzgerald had served as interim general manager since January.

WTA revises rankings system, adds 2 events as return nears

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The WTA Tour will allow players to count results from March 2019 through December 2020 under a revised rankings system when tennis resumes next month. Players will count their best 16 results in singles and best 11 in doubles during that window to determine their rankings points. Results usually count over 52 weeks. Players cannot use the same event twice if it was played in both 2019 and 2020. The WTA also added two events to its provisional schedule Thursday. The Prague Open in the Czech Republic and the Top Seed Open in Lexington, Kentucky will be played the week of Aug. 10.

Texas Tech signs 7-foot-1 Russian center as 8th addition

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Texas Tech has signed 7-foot-1 Russian center Vladislav Goldin. Coach Chris Beard announced Goldin's signing Thursday. Goldin is from Nalchik, Russia. Goldin played last season at Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut. He also played for Russia's U18 and U19 national teams, and for three seasons with CSKA Moscow's Junior Team. The center is the eighth player that has signed with the Red Raiders, including Division I transfers Mac McClung (Georgetown), Jamarius Burton (Wichita State), Marcus Santos-Silva (Virginia Commonwealth). There was also a junior college transfer and three high school signees. 

Student health boss cited for not reporting doc's misconduct

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A former Ohio State student health director faces potential discipline from the state medical board for failing to report several sexual misconduct complaints in the mid-1990s about a doctor now accused of abusing young men for two decades. The citation makes former director Ted Grace the first individual to face such action in the wake of allegations that Ohio State officials long turned a blind eye to misconduct by now-deceased doctor Richard Strauss. He now leads student health services at Southern Illinois University. 

Syracuse University appoints diversity director for sports

UNDATED (AP) — Syracuse University has added an athletic director of diversity, culture and climate in a new position within the department of athletics. 

Salatha Willis is charged with developing and implementing new ways to create an equitable culture for the university's student-athletes, administrators, coaches and staff in the athletic department. 

The move is a response to the racial tension that has wracked the country, including a period of social unrest on campus last fall. There were more than a dozen reports last November of racist graffiti and vandalism targeting Blacks, Jews, Asians and Native Americans. 

Athletic director John Wildhack says the death of George Floyd in police custody also was a factor.

<h2>Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press</h2>UNDATED (AP) — The Big Ten Conference won't play nonconference games in football and a handful of other sports this fall because of the coronavirus pandemic. The league also warned that it was "prepared not to play" at all to keep its athletes safe. The decision affects more than 40 games, including some marquee matchups like Notre Dame against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field. The announcement came a day after the Ivy League called off all fall sports. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith says he is "very concerned" about the season.<h2>Update on the latest sports</h2>NBA-WILLIAMSON LAWSUITCourt filing alleges $400K paid to Williamson family in '18UNDATED (AP) — The legal fight over NBA rookie Zion Williamson's endorsement potential now includes an allegation his family received $400,000 from a marketing agency before playing at Duke. Prime Sports Marketing and company president Gina Ford filed a lawsuit last summer in Florida, accusing Williamson and the agency now representing him of breach of contract. Williamson had filed a lawsuit in North Carolina to terminate a five-year contract with Prime Sports.In court filings Thursday in North Carolina, Ford's attorneys included a sworn affidavit from a California man who said the head of a Canadian-based firm called Maximum Management Group (MMG) told him he paid Williamson's family for his commitment to sign with MMG once he left Duke for the NBA.Williamson's attorney says those documents are "fraudulent."The documents include a marketing agreement signed by Williamson with MMG from May 2019, a December 2019 "letter of declaration" signed by Williamson and his stepfather agreeing to pay $500,000 to MMG president Slavko Duric for "repayment of a loan" from October 2018, and a copy of Williamson's South Carolina driver's license.In other NBA news:— Full-scale practices inside the NBA bubble at the Disney complex have started. The Orlando Magic became the first team to formally return to the floor. By the close of business, all 22 teams participating in the restart were to be checked into their hotel and beginning their isolation from the rest of the world for what will be several weeks at least. And by Saturday, all teams should have practiced at least once.— The Brooklyn Nets filled one of the openings on their roster by signing veteran Michael Beasley as a substitute player for the remainder of the season. The Nets will resume play without Spencer Dinwiddie and DeAndre Jordan after they tested positive for the coronavirus. They are also without Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Wilson Chandler. Beasley was the No. 2 pick in the 2008 draft and has averaged 12.4 points over 11 seasons. He hasn't played in the NBA since appearing for the Lakers in February 2019.MLB-2021 SCHEDULEMLB releases 2021 schedule; all 30 teams to open on April 1NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball will open the 2021 season on April 1 and hopes to have every team play its first game on the same day for the first time since 1968.The league released the full schedule Thursday with this year's 60-game regular season schedule scheduled to begin July 23 as clubs set to play only division foes and regional interleague opponents — AL East vs. NL East, AL Central vs. NL Central, AL West vs. NL West — to limit travel.Clubs will resume full intraleague schedules in 2021, and interleague play will again align regionally.The New York Mets will host the cross-town Yankees at Citi Field on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the first time the Subway Series will take place on Sept. 11. The Yankees will host the Mets during Fourth of July weekend.Atlanta will host the 91st All-Star Game on July 13 at Truist Park. It's Atlanta's first All-Star Game since hosting in 2000 at Turner Field.In other MLB news:— Baseball has its answer to World Cup soccer's penalty kicks, NFL overtimes or NHL shootouts. And it figures to stir just as much debate as all those other forms of tiebreakers. Major League Baseball will start each extra inning this season by putting a runner on second base. The minor leagues have used this extra-inning format since 2018. MLB is experimenting with the rule this year in part to prevent marathon games from causing long-term damage to pitching staffs in a pandemic-shortened season. — Anthony Rendon mostly spent the first few months of his seven-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels changing his daughters' diapers and throwing a tennis ball at a wall. The $245 million third baseman is more than ready to get to work earning his riches, and the World Series winner doesn't think it will take long to get back into championship form. Rendon is getting to know his teammates again after his first spring with the Angels was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic before he even got a chance to play in Anaheim. The most coveted hitter on the free agent market even got his World Series ring this week.— Cody Bellinger is ready for whatever baseball's shortened 60-game season brings. The All-Star slugger is looking to pick up where he left off after a stellar performance for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019. The reigning NL MVP batted .305 with 47 homers and 115 RBIs for the NL West champions last year. He says the season figures to be "a once-in-a-lifetime thing" because of the changes brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. — Cleveland Indians outfielder Franmil Reyes (FRAHN'-meel RAY'-uhs) has apologized for putting himself and his teammates at risk by not wearing a mask or practicing social distancing at a weekend holiday party. Reyes says he's "learned from it and it won't happen again." The club kept Reyes away from its training camp after he was spotted on social media attending a Fourth of July get-together. Reyes had to be re-tested for the new coronavirus and cleared by Indians medical personnel before he was allowed to practice. He was acquired last year in a trade with the San Diego Padres. — J.T. Realmuto isn't worried about his contract situation. The All-Star catcher and the Philadelphia Phillies had preliminary discussions about a long-term deal before the coronavirus pandemic but talks between the two sides haven't progressed since baseball returned last week. Realmuto is eligible for free agency after the season unless the Phillies sign him before he can test the market. He's expected to seek at least $20 million per season. Last week, Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said the pandemic has changed the landscape of baseball. Lost revenue could affect salaries around the majors going forward.VIRUS OUTBREAK-SPORTSBig Ten to limit fall sports to conference games UNDATED (AP) — The Big Ten Conference says it will not play nonconference games in football or several other sports this fall because of the coronavirus pandemic. The league cited medical advice in reaching its decision, the biggest yet by a power conference.Besides football, the sports affected include men's and women's cross country, field hockey, men's and women's soccer and women's volleyball.The announcement came a day after the Ivy League Conference canceled sporting events until at least January.In other developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic:— The Atlantic Coast Conference is putting fall competitions on hold until at least Sept. 1 due to the coronavirus pandemic, a move that won't affect football as of now. The league announced the decision Thursday impacting non-revenue sports such as soccer, volleyball, field hockey and cross country. North Carolina State and Louisville meet on Sept. 2 in the first football game involving any league teams. Schools won't be able to hold exhibitions or regular-season competition before that date, and it will be up to the schools to determine whether to reschedule any affected events. But the ACC isn't barring teams from holding workouts and preseason practices "in anticipation of a fall season."— North Carolina State says five people tied to Wolfpack sports have tested positive for COVID-19. Athletics spokesman Fred Demarest says those positives came after the school tested 315 athletes, coaches and staff starting May 29. That's a positive rate of roughly 1.6%.— NFL teams will be prohibited from post-game interactions within 6 feet of each other so players won't be allowed to exchange jerseys after games as part of the guidelines to help limit the spread of the coronavirus. Players and coaches are not required to wear masks, but everyone else on the sideline is. The league and the players' union still haven't agreed on testing and screening protocols.— The plan to have fans at the World Golf Championships event in Memphis has been scrapped. Officials announced Thursday that the FedEx St. Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind will not have any spectators due to what they call "an abundance of caution." Ticket purchases will be refunded automatically.— China says it won't stage any international sports for the rest of the year, apart from trials for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing and a neighboring city. The order from the General Administration of Sports affects at least six WTA tennis events, including the WTA Finals in Shenzhen in November. China also has four ATP tournaments lined up. Shanghai was also due to host two big golf events, the men's HSBC Champions, a World Golf Championship event two weeks after the LPGA Shanghai. — The spokesman for the Tokyo Olympics expects the postponed games to go ahead in 2021 despite a recent poll in Japan in which 77% of respondents said they did not believe the games could be held next year. The poll by the Japan News Network said only 17% thought it could be held next year in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.— CBS will get an early start on its Champions League deal by showing games next month when the pandemic-delayed competition resumes. The rights to the rest of this Champions League season and all of next season became available last month when Turner opted out of its 2018-21 deal for exclusive English language rights in the United States. This season's competition resumes on Aug. 7 and ends with an eight-team knockout tournament in Lisbon, Portugal. The final is on Aug. 23.— A horse named for Dr. Anthony Fauci has won his first race at Keeneland. The 2-year-old colt won by a length Thursday as the heavy favorite against 11 rivals in the $70,000 race at the Lexington, Kentucky, track. Fauci ran 5 1/2 furlongs on turf in 58.65 seconds under jockey Tyler Gaffalione and paid $4.20 to win. Fauci finished second in his career debut at New York's Belmont Park last month.— World champion sprinter Noah Lyles was the star attraction in a rare track meet in 2020 held on Thursday that didn't go quite to plan. Lyles lined up in the 200 meters on a Florida track while two opponents started simultaneously in Switzerland and the Netherlands. It was the marquee race of storied Swiss meet Weltklasse which synchronized athletes competing in seven different stadiums across Europe and the United States. Turned out 200 meters for the others was only a 185-meter race for Lyles. And the clock that stopped at 18.90 seconds wasn't a world record for Lyles ahead of Usain Bolt's iconic 19.19. Lyles later tweeted his starting block was placed in the wrong lane.— The imagery evoked by Dana White's crazy idea for holding mixed martial arts fights on a tropical island was undeniably intoxicating. A few months later, the project that came to be known as Fight Island is real and ready for competition. And while Fight Island is not exactly the idyllic scene evoked by its name, the octagon inside an air-conditioned arena on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island also sits inside a bubble that seems highly unlikely to burst. Fight Island will host four UFC events in 14 days, starting with three championship fights at UFC 251 this weekend.MLS-NEWSBou scores lone goal and Revolution down Impact 1-0LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Gustavo Bou scored in the 56th minute to give the New England Revolution a 1-0 victory over the Montreal Impact in the MLS is Back tournament Thursday night. Bou maneuvered atop the penalty area before a blast that goalkeeper Clement Diop couldn't stop in the match played without fans at ESPN's Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World. Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner preserved the victory in stoppage time with a big save on Ballou Tabla's curling shot from distance. In other MLS news:— Nashville SC has withdrawn from Major League Soccer's MLS is Back tournament in Florida after nine players tested positive for the coronavirus. Nashville is the second team to withdraw from the tournament. FC Dallas had to pull out after 10 players and a coach tested positive for COVID-19. The league is revising its schedule to reflect Nashville's withdrawal. The tournament started Wednesday.PGA-MEMORIAL-WOODSTiger Woods to return next week at Muirfield VillageDUBLIN, Ohio (AP) — Tiger Woods announced Thursday on Twitter he will play next week at the Memorial, a tournament he has won a record five times, as he goes after his record 83rd career victory on the PGA Tour.It will end a five-month break from competition for Woods. He last played on Feb. 16 at the Genesis Invitational, where he shot 76-77 at chilly Riviera to finish alone in last place.In other PGA news:— Collin Morikawa had his first forced weekend off when he missed the cut two weeks ago for the first time in his pro career. He bounced back in a big way. Morikawa made a strong debut at Muirfield Village with a 7-under 65 for a one-shot lead over Adam Hadwin. It was a quiet day of work with no fans at the course Jack Nicklaus built. Phil Mickelson made noise early until a 41 on the back nine left him in danger of missing another cut. This is the first of two straight events at Muirfield Village.- Dylan Frittelli says it was hard not to feel like an outcast at the Workday Charity Open. But at least he was playing. He was part of the COVID-19 grouping with Nick Watney and Denny McCarthy. All three tested positive for the coronavirus. They all self-isolated for 10 days or more. And then they all tested positive again. Under CDC guidelines the PGA Tour is following, they were cleared to play even with a positive test. Tour medical advisers says nasal tests can pick up the virus, but after 10 days it's no longer believed to be contagious.NASCAR-XFINITY-KENTUCKYAustin Cindric wins NASCAR Xfinity race at Kentucky SpeedwaySPARTA, Ky. (AP) — Austin Cindric won the first of two NASCAR Xfinity Series races at Kentucky Speedway, charging past Chase Briscoe on an overtime restart Thursday night for his first victory of the season and first on an oval. Cindric spent most of the first two stages chasing Noah Gragson, the pole-sitter who seemed poised to dominate all three segments. Cindric then took charge on a series of restarts in Team Penske's No. 22 Ford Mustang. On the last one, he went around Briscoe on the outside and pulled away before a last-lap wreck ended the race. The 21-year-old Cindric had eight top-10s on ovals before breaking through on the 1.5-mile Kentucky layout. His only other series victories came last year on road courses at Watkins Glen and Mid-Ohio. NHL-DEVILS-RUFFRuff to become Devils coach, Fitzgerald stays GMUNDATED (AP) — The New Jersey Devils have hired veteran coach Lindy Ruff to take over one of the NHL's youngest teams. Ruff replaces interim coach Alain Nasreddine (ah-LAYN' NAZ'-reh-deen), who guided the Devils to a 19-16-8 record after replacing John Hynes. The 60-year-old Ruff had been an assistant coach with the New York Rangers. He previously coached the Dallas Stars and the Buffalo Sabres, leading the Sabres to the Stanley Cup Final in 1999.New Jersey also removed the interim tag from Tom Fitzgerald's title as general manager. Fitzgerald had served as interim general manager since January.TENNIS-WTA CHANGESWTA revises rankings system, adds 2 events as return nearsST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The WTA Tour will allow players to count results from March 2019 through December 2020 under a revised rankings system when tennis resumes next month. Players will count their best 16 results in singles and best 11 in doubles during that window to determine their rankings points. Results usually count over 52 weeks. Players cannot use the same event twice if it was played in both 2019 and 2020. The WTA also added two events to its provisional schedule Thursday. The Prague Open in the Czech Republic and the Top Seed Open in Lexington, Kentucky will be played the week of Aug. 10.COLLEGE BASKETBALL-T25Texas Tech signs 7-foot-1 Russian center as 8th additionLUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Texas Tech has signed 7-foot-1 Russian center Vladislav Goldin. Coach Chris Beard announced Goldin's signing Thursday. Goldin is from Nalchik, Russia. Goldin played last season at Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut. He also played for Russia's U18 and U19 national teams, and for three seasons with CSKA Moscow's Junior Team. The center is the eighth player that has signed with the Red Raiders, including Division I transfers Mac McClung (Georgetown), Jamarius Burton (Wichita State), Marcus Santos-Silva (Virginia Commonwealth). There was also a junior college transfer and three high school signees. OHIO STATE-TEAM DOCTORStudent health boss cited for not reporting doc's misconductCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A former Ohio State student health director faces potential discipline from the state medical board for failing to report several sexual misconduct complaints in the mid-1990s about a doctor now accused of abusing young men for two decades. The citation makes former director Ted Grace the first individual to face such action in the wake of allegations that Ohio State officials long turned a blind eye to misconduct by now-deceased doctor Richard Strauss. He now leads student health services at Southern Illinois University. SYRACUSE-DIVERSITY DIRECTORSyracuse University appoints diversity director for sportsUNDATED (AP) — Syracuse University has added an athletic director of diversity, culture and climate in a new position within the department of athletics. Salatha Willis is charged with developing and implementing new ways to create an equitable culture for the university's student-athletes, administrators, coaches and staff in the athletic department. The move is a response to the racial tension that has wracked the country, including a period of social unrest on campus last fall. There were more than a dozen reports last November of racist graffiti and vandalism targeting Blacks, Jews, Asians and Native Americans. Athletic director John Wildhack says the death of George Floyd in police custody also was a factor.

Friday Sports Headlines

The California Community College Athletic Association is moving all sports, even football, to the spring.

The decision announced Thursday was one of three potential scenarios approved by the CCCAA Board of Directors last month.

“I know I speak for the entire CCCAA Board that moving Fall athletics to Spring 2021 is a huge disappointment,” said Dr. Erika Endrijonas, Board Chair and President of Pasadena City College. “However, the need to keep our student-athletes and the amazing coaches and athletic trainers who work with them safe was simply the only option available with the virus spiraling out of control across the state.”

Sports will have a 30% decrease in the maximum number of contests and postseason events will be regional.

The CCCAA has 110-member colleges and approximately 24,000 athletes.

The Division II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference have suspended fall sports and championship events due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The leagues announced the move Thursday and issued a joint statement, saying that “the welfare of our student-athletes is sacrosanct and must preempt all other considerations when evaluating any return to competition efforts.”

In its release, the CIAA said it would explore a possible modified competition schedule for football, volleyball and cross country for the spring. There is no time frame for making that decision. The league, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, said it would discuss plans for winter and spring sports.

Atlanta-based SIAC said it would also look at moving some fall sports such as football into the spring.

Memphis is cutting 14% from its administrative and sports operation budgets.

The Tigers finished 17th in the country after a loss in the Cotton Bowl and had a game at Purdue scheduled for Sept. 12 cut by the Big Ten’s decision to play only conference games this fall.

Athletic director Laird Veatch also will be donating 10% of his salary for six months to Tiger Scholarship Fund and said men’s basketball coach Penny Hardaway, football coach Ryan Silverfield and women’s basketball coach Melissa McFerrin are giving back nearly $200,000 to Memphis athletics.

Veach said in a release Thursday that he appreciates the flexibility and sacrifices from his coaches and staff during what he called “arguably never been a more uncertain financial period in our history.”

Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior has tested negative for the new coronavirus and has joined the squad for the Spanish league game against Alavés on Friday.

Coach Zinedine Zidane had said earlier Thursday that the Brazilian forward needed to have another coronavirus test after an initial result came out inconclusive.

Madrid needs a win to regain a four-point lead over second-place Barcelona with three rounds to go. The Catalan club defeated Espanyol 1-0 on Wednesday.

Spanish league players have undergone regular testing since the competition resumed last month.

Cleveland Indians outfielder Franmil Reyes apologized for putting himself and his teammates at risk by not wearing a mask or practicing social distancing at a weekend holiday party.

The club kept Reyes away from its training camp after he was spotted on social media attending a Fourth of July get-together. Reyes had to be re-tested for the new coronavirus and cleared by Indians medical personnel before he was allowed to practice.

“I really apologize, because I was not protecting myself and my teammates,” Reyes said on a Zoom call from Progressive Field. “I learned from it and it won’t happen again. I really don’t want to stop practicing. I really apologize and I swear it won’t happen again.”

This will be his first full season with the Indians, who acquired him last year in a trade with the San Diego Padres. The 25-year-old slugger hit a combined 37 homers last year for San Diego and Cleveland and may get some playing time in right field.

The Seattle Seahawks are allowing season ticket holders the option to pause their season tickets and receive a refund for the upcoming NFL season or keep a credit in their account for the 2021 season.

In a letter to season ticket holders on Thursday, the team said choosing to pause a season ticket will release the seats for the 2020 season only, and the ticket holder will be able to purchase the same seat again in 2021.

Fans who choose to keep their tickets for the 2020 upcoming season will have priority if there are schedule changes or changes in stadium capacity.

The Seahawks did not say how many fans would be allowed inside CenturyLink Field. Earlier this week, the Baltimore Ravens said they’ll seat fewer than 14,000 fans at M&amp;T Bank Stadium.

Dartmouth is eliminating five varsity sports teams and several staff positions.

The Ivy League school announced Thursday that men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s golf, and men’s lightweight rowing, have been cut, effective immediately. That drops to 30 the number of varsity teams and will reduce the number of recruited athletes in incoming classes by 10%. A total of about 110 student-athletes are affected. Jobs for 15 staff, including eight coaching positions, also will end.

The change in the number of teams does not alter the college’s compliance with federal Title IX regulations, which require equal opportunities for women and men in varsity athletics, Dartmouth President Philip J. Hanlon said in an email to faculty, students, staff, and undergraduate families.

Dartmouth also is permanently closing its Hanover Country Club, which has deficits expected to swell to $1 million a year.

The cuts are projected to save more than $2 million as the school addresses a projected $150 million deficit caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Planning for a season they acknowledge will be “very different,” the Cleveland Browns told their season-ticket holders they can opt out of the 2020 season without penalty and other plans related to the COVID-19 virus and its impact on the NFL.

The Browns sent a letter to their fans on Thursday that outlined some new policies due to the pandemic. Anyone attending a game at FirstEnergy Stadium will have to follow physical-distancing guidelines and wear “mandated facial coverings.”

The team did not say how many fans will be allowed in the 67,000-seat stadium, which has been the Browns’ lakefront home since 1999.

Earlier this week, the Baltimore Ravens said they’ll seat fewer than 14,000 fans at M&amp;T Bank Stadium. The Browns are scheduled to open the season there on Sept. 13.

If Cleveland season-ticket holders decide not to attend games in 2020, they can retain their same seat location in 2021.

Brazil’s soccer confederation said Thursday its main national championship will be played between Aug.9 and Feb.21.

The Brasileirāo tournament usually starts in May and ends in December but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The confederation also said it expected World Cup qualifiers to be played in the same dates decided by FIFA. The earliest fixtures are scheduled for September.

More than 68,000 people have died from COVID-19 in Brazil, and another 1.7 million are confirmed to have the disease.

The plan to have fans at the World Golf Championships event in Memphis has been scrapped.

Officials announced Thursday that the FedEx St. Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind will not have any spectators due to what they call “an abundance of caution.”

Tournament officials have been talking extensively with both the PGA Tour and local and state health officials. Executive director Darrell Smith says they had a safety plan for limited spectators but ultimately felt it was best to host without any fans. Ticket purchases will be refunded automatically.

The PGA Tour and the Memorial announced Monday a reversal of their plan for a limited amount of spectators next week in Dublin, Ohio, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that every PGA Tour event through at least July will be held without fans since play resumed June 11 in Texas.

The Atlantic Coast Conference is putting fall competitions on hold until at least Sept. 1 due to the coronavirus pandemic, a move that won’t affect football as of now.

The league announced the decision Thursday impacting non-revenue sports such as soccer, volleyball, field hockey and cross country. North Carolina State and Louisville meet on Sept. 2 in the first football game involving any league teams.

Schools won’t be able to hold exhibitions or regular-season competition before that date, and it will be up to the schools to determine whether to reschedule any affected events. But the ACC isn’t barring teams from holding workouts and preseason practices “in anticipation of a fall season.”

North Carolina State says five people tied to Wolfpack sports have tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Athletics spokesman Fred Demarest said Thursday those positives came after the school tested 315 athletes, coaches and staff starting May 29. That’s a positive rate of roughly 1.6%.

N.C. State athletic director Boo Corrigan had announced in early June that the school had begun a schedule of allowing athletes to return in phases to campus.

That plan started with testing of members of the football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball programs who live locally. Athletes who were cleared were then allowed to participate in voluntary workouts in small groups.

On Wednesday, rival North Carolina said it was pausing football workouts for at least a week. That came after 37 positive results among 429 tests administered to UNC athletes, coaches and staff as they returned to campus in phases starting in June.

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says forward Vinícius Júnior will need to have another coronavirus test after an initial test result came out “wrong.”

Zidane says “the doctor informed me that the test had come out wrong and we were going to repeat it.”

Zidane says the Brazilian’s test was not positive. He says “sometimes there are errors. It wasn’t negative or positive.”

Some players and staff members at Valencia and Alavés tested positive in March. They have all recovered. No player has tested positive since the competition resumed in empty stadiums.

Madrid leads the Spanish league with four games left.

<h2>The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:</h2>The California Community College Athletic Association is moving all sports, even football, to the spring.The decision announced Thursday was one of three potential scenarios approved by the CCCAA Board of Directors last month.“I know I speak for the entire CCCAA Board that moving Fall athletics to Spring 2021 is a huge disappointment,” said Dr. Erika Endrijonas, Board Chair and President of Pasadena City College. “However, the need to keep our student-athletes and the amazing coaches and athletic trainers who work with them safe was simply the only option available with the virus spiraling out of control across the state.”Sports will have a 30% decrease in the maximum number of contests and postseason events will be regional.The CCCAA has 110-member colleges and approximately 24,000 athletes.___The Division II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference have suspended fall sports and championship events due to the coronavirus pandemic.The leagues announced the move Thursday and issued a joint statement, saying that “the welfare of our student-athletes is sacrosanct and must preempt all other considerations when evaluating any return to competition efforts.”In its release, the CIAA said it would explore a possible modified competition schedule for football, volleyball and cross country for the spring. There is no time frame for making that decision. The league, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, said it would discuss plans for winter and spring sports.Atlanta-based SIAC said it would also look at moving some fall sports such as football into the spring.___Memphis is cutting 14% from its administrative and sports operation budgets.The Tigers finished 17th in the country after a loss in the Cotton Bowl and had a game at Purdue scheduled for Sept. 12 cut by the Big Ten’s decision to play only conference games this fall.Athletic director Laird Veatch also will be donating 10% of his salary for six months to Tiger Scholarship Fund and said men’s basketball coach Penny Hardaway, football coach Ryan Silverfield and women’s basketball coach Melissa McFerrin are giving back nearly $200,000 to Memphis athletics.Veach said in a release Thursday that he appreciates the flexibility and sacrifices from his coaches and staff during what he called “arguably never been a more uncertain financial period in our history.”___Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior has tested negative for the new coronavirus and has joined the squad for the Spanish league game against Alavés on Friday.Coach Zinedine Zidane had said earlier Thursday that the Brazilian forward needed to have another coronavirus test after an initial result came out inconclusive.Madrid needs a win to regain a four-point lead over second-place Barcelona with three rounds to go. The Catalan club defeated Espanyol 1-0 on Wednesday.Spanish league players have undergone regular testing since the competition resumed last month.___Cleveland Indians outfielder Franmil Reyes apologized for putting himself and his teammates at risk by not wearing a mask or practicing social distancing at a weekend holiday party.The club kept Reyes away from its training camp after he was spotted on social media attending a Fourth of July get-together. Reyes had to be re-tested for the new coronavirus and cleared by Indians medical personnel before he was allowed to practice.“I really apologize, because I was not protecting myself and my teammates,” Reyes said on a Zoom call from Progressive Field. “I learned from it and it won’t happen again. I really don’t want to stop practicing. I really apologize and I swear it won’t happen again.”This will be his first full season with the Indians, who acquired him last year in a trade with the San Diego Padres. The 25-year-old slugger hit a combined 37 homers last year for San Diego and Cleveland and may get some playing time in right field.___The Seattle Seahawks are allowing season ticket holders the option to pause their season tickets and receive a refund for the upcoming NFL season or keep a credit in their account for the 2021 season.In a letter to season ticket holders on Thursday, the team said choosing to pause a season ticket will release the seats for the 2020 season only, and the ticket holder will be able to purchase the same seat again in 2021.Fans who choose to keep their tickets for the 2020 upcoming season will have priority if there are schedule changes or changes in stadium capacity.The Seahawks did not say how many fans would be allowed inside CenturyLink Field. Earlier this week, the Baltimore Ravens said they’ll seat fewer than 14,000 fans at M&amp;T Bank Stadium.___Dartmouth is eliminating five varsity sports teams and several staff positions.The Ivy League school announced Thursday that men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s golf, and men’s lightweight rowing, have been cut, effective immediately. That drops to 30 the number of varsity teams and will reduce the number of recruited athletes in incoming classes by 10%. A total of about 110 student-athletes are affected. Jobs for 15 staff, including eight coaching positions, also will end.The change in the number of teams does not alter the college’s compliance with federal Title IX regulations, which require equal opportunities for women and men in varsity athletics, Dartmouth President Philip J. Hanlon said in an email to faculty, students, staff, and undergraduate families.Dartmouth also is permanently closing its Hanover Country Club, which has deficits expected to swell to $1 million a year.The cuts are projected to save more than $2 million as the school addresses a projected $150 million deficit caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.___Planning for a season they acknowledge will be “very different,” the Cleveland Browns told their season-ticket holders they can opt out of the 2020 season without penalty and other plans related to the COVID-19 virus and its impact on the NFL.The Browns sent a letter to their fans on Thursday that outlined some new policies due to the pandemic. Anyone attending a game at FirstEnergy Stadium will have to follow physical-distancing guidelines and wear “mandated facial coverings.”The team did not say how many fans will be allowed in the 67,000-seat stadium, which has been the Browns’ lakefront home since 1999.Earlier this week, the Baltimore Ravens said they’ll seat fewer than 14,000 fans at M&amp;T Bank Stadium. The Browns are scheduled to open the season there on Sept. 13.If Cleveland season-ticket holders decide not to attend games in 2020, they can retain their same seat location in 2021.___Brazil’s soccer confederation said Thursday its main national championship will be played between Aug.9 and Feb.21.The Brasileirāo tournament usually starts in May and ends in December but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.The confederation also said it expected World Cup qualifiers to be played in the same dates decided by FIFA. The earliest fixtures are scheduled for September.More than 68,000 people have died from COVID-19 in Brazil, and another 1.7 million are confirmed to have the disease.___The plan to have fans at the World Golf Championships event in Memphis has been scrapped.Officials announced Thursday that the FedEx St. Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind will not have any spectators due to what they call “an abundance of caution.”Tournament officials have been talking extensively with both the PGA Tour and local and state health officials. Executive director Darrell Smith says they had a safety plan for limited spectators but ultimately felt it was best to host without any fans. Ticket purchases will be refunded automatically.The PGA Tour and the Memorial announced Monday a reversal of their plan for a limited amount of spectators next week in Dublin, Ohio, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that every PGA Tour event through at least July will be held without fans since play resumed June 11 in Texas.___The Atlantic Coast Conference is putting fall competitions on hold until at least Sept. 1 due to the coronavirus pandemic, a move that won’t affect football as of now.The league announced the decision Thursday impacting non-revenue sports such as soccer, volleyball, field hockey and cross country. North Carolina State and Louisville meet on Sept. 2 in the first football game involving any league teams.Schools won’t be able to hold exhibitions or regular-season competition before that date, and it will be up to the schools to determine whether to reschedule any affected events. But the ACC isn’t barring teams from holding workouts and preseason practices “in anticipation of a fall season.”___North Carolina State says five people tied to Wolfpack sports have tested positive for the new coronavirus.Athletics spokesman Fred Demarest said Thursday those positives came after the school tested 315 athletes, coaches and staff starting May 29. That’s a positive rate of roughly 1.6%.N.C. State athletic director Boo Corrigan had announced in early June that the school had begun a schedule of allowing athletes to return in phases to campus.That plan started with testing of members of the football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball programs who live locally. Athletes who were cleared were then allowed to participate in voluntary workouts in small groups.On Wednesday, rival North Carolina said it was pausing football workouts for at least a week. That came after 37 positive results among 429 tests administered to UNC athletes, coaches and staff as they returned to campus in phases starting in June.___Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says forward Vinícius Júnior will need to have another coronavirus test after an initial test result came out “wrong.”Zidane says “the doctor informed me that the test had come out wrong and we were going to repeat it.”Zidane says the Brazilian’s test was not positive. He says “sometimes there are errors. It wasn’t negative or positive.”Spanish league players have undergone regular testing since the competition resumed last month.Some players and staff members at Valencia and Alavés tested positive in March. They have all recovered. No player has tested positive since the competition resumed in empty stadiums.Madrid leads the Spanish league with four games left.

Sports Update: California CCAA moving all sports to the spring

The league released the full schedule Thursday, two weeks before it plans to begin a 2020 season that’s been delayed and shortened by the coronavirus pandemic. MLB intended to start this season on March 26, its earliest opening date ever except for international games.

The league also hoped to have all 30 clubs play on the same opening day this season, but that was spoiled when Commissioner Rob Manfred suspended spring training in March.

Instead, a 60-game regular season schedule is scheduled to begin July 23, with clubs set to play only division foes and regional interleague opponents — AL East vs. NL East, AL Central vs. NL Central, AL West vs. NL West — to limit travel.

Atlanta will host the 91st All-Star Game on July 13 at Truist Park. It’s Atlanta’s first All-Star Game since hosting in 2000 at Turner Field.

MLB also tried to have every team play its first game on the same day in 2018, but two games were postponed due to poor weather.

The last day of the season will be Oct. 3.

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball will open the 2021 season on April 1 and hopes to have every team play its first game on the same day for the first time since 1968.The league released the full schedule Thursday, two weeks before it plans to begin a 2020 season that’s been delayed and shortened by the coronavirus pandemic. MLB intended to start this season on March 26, its earliest opening date ever except for international games.The league also hoped to have all 30 clubs play on the same opening day this season, but that was spoiled when Commissioner Rob Manfred suspended spring training in March.Instead, a 60-game regular season schedule is scheduled to begin July 23, with clubs set to play only division foes and regional interleague opponents — AL East vs. NL East, AL Central vs. NL Central, AL West vs. NL West — to limit travel.MORE SPORTS STORIES:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://apnews.com/98974e546cb7b31936899d72c4265cc7">–&nbsp;Tokyo Games face skeptics, 1-day COVID-19 infection record</a></li><li><a href="https://apnews.com/ba7c245486e86e5e7b68948f99fbba5f">–&nbsp;The Latest: California CCAA moving all sports to the spring</a></li><li><a href="https://apnews.com/51a927a6644f154779b7f096affa4781">–&nbsp;Winds of change? Company looks at weather's effect on ball</a></li>
 </ul>Clubs will resume full intraleague schedules in 2021, and interleague play will again align regionally.The New York Mets will host the cross-town Yankees at Citi Field on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the first time the Subway Series will take place on Sept. 11. The Yankees will host the Mets during Fourth of July weekend.Atlanta will host the 91st All-Star Game on July 13 at Truist Park. It’s Atlanta’s first All-Star Game since hosting in 2000 at Turner Field.MLB also tried to have every team play its first game on the same day in 2018, but two games were postponed due to poor weather.The last day of the season will be Oct. 3.

CBSSports.com followed up with the fall out from the Big Ten's previous announcement.

The Big Ten made a difficult decision Thursday when it announced that it would play a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/big-ten-to-play-conference-only-football-schedule-for-2020-season-amid-covid-19-pandemic/" target="_blank">conference-only football schedule</a>&nbsp;in 2020 -- if it plays the season at all -- amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Needless to say, that decision has reverberated throughout the Power FIve and the FBS as a whole.

Not only have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/big-ten-schedule-changes-ohio-state-oregon-michigan-washington-lead-42-nonconference-cancellations/" target="_blank">42 Big Ten nonconference games now been canceled</a>, other major conferences are now facing the same decision the Big Ten made. So where do the Power Five conferences stand? Let's take a look at what we know as the leagues all figure out exactly what they are going to do this season.

SEC:&nbsp;The SEC had no comment on its future plans when reached by CBS Sports. Missouri athletic director Jim Sterk did tell reporters Thursday that a potential conference-only schedule&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Dave_Matter/status/1281305453004193793" target="_blank">could be decided upon by late July</a>. It's unclear if that time frame has been accelerated after the Big Ten's announcement.

ACC:&nbsp;The ACC is considering a conference-game only schedule, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/BruceFeldmanCFB/status/1281327608756494336" target="_blank">The Athletic's Bruce Feldman</a>. It also plans to work independent Notre Dame into the scheduling format due to its existing affiliation with the conference in football. However, the ACC has not yet come to any formal decision.

Big 12:&nbsp;The Big 12 has not made an announcement about its plans as of Thursday afternoon and appears to be taking the same wait-and-see approach as the SEC. Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said "no" when asked by the&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/RandyPete/status/1281323905488224257" target="_blank">Des Moines Register's Randy Peterson</a>&nbsp;whether any scheduling announcement was coming soon.

Pac-12:&nbsp;The Pac-12 will reportedly move to conference-only games for the 2020 season with an announcement expected in the coming days, according to Auerbach.. That would be an obvious decision considering Michigan-Washington in Week 1 and Oregon-Ohio State in Week 2 are two of the biggest nonconference games originally scheduled during the 2020 season.

CBSSports.com followed up with the fall out from the Big Ten's previous announcement.The Big Ten made a difficult decision Thursday when it announced that it would play a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/big-ten-to-play-conference-only-football-schedule-for-2020-season-amid-covid-19-pandemic/" target="_blank">conference-only football schedule</a>&nbsp;in 2020 -- if it plays the season at all -- amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Needless to say, that decision has reverberated throughout the Power FIve and the FBS as a whole.Not only have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/big-ten-schedule-changes-ohio-state-oregon-michigan-washington-lead-42-nonconference-cancellations/" target="_blank">42 Big Ten nonconference games now been canceled</a>, other major conferences are now facing the same decision the Big Ten made. So where do the Power Five conferences stand? Let's take a look at what we know as the leagues all figure out exactly what they are going to do this season.SEC:&nbsp;The SEC had no comment on its future plans when reached by CBS Sports. Missouri athletic director Jim Sterk did tell reporters Thursday that a potential conference-only schedule&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Dave_Matter/status/1281305453004193793" target="_blank">could be decided upon by late July</a>. It's unclear if that time frame has been accelerated after the Big Ten's announcement.ACC:&nbsp;The ACC is considering a conference-game only schedule, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/BruceFeldmanCFB/status/1281327608756494336" target="_blank">The Athletic's Bruce Feldman</a>. It also plans to work independent Notre Dame into the scheduling format due to its existing affiliation with the conference in football. However, the ACC has not yet come to any formal decision.Big 12:&nbsp;The Big 12 has not made an announcement about its plans as of Thursday afternoon and appears to be taking the same wait-and-see approach as the SEC. Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said "no" when asked by the&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/RandyPete/status/1281323905488224257" target="_blank">Des Moines Register's Randy Peterson</a>&nbsp;whether any scheduling announcement was coming soon.Pac-12:&nbsp;The Pac-12 will reportedly move to conference-only games for the 2020 season with an announcement expected in the coming days, according to Auerbach.. That would be an obvious decision considering Michigan-Washington in Week 1 and Oregon-Ohio State in Week 2 are two of the biggest nonconference games originally scheduled during the 2020 season.

2020 college football schedules: Where the SEC, ACC, Big 12 and Pac-12 stand on conference-only slates

The Big Ten Conference announced Thursday it will not play nonconference games in football and several other sports this fall, the most dramatic move yet by a power conference because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The league cited medical advice in making its decision and added ominously that the plan would be applied only “if the conference is able to participate in fall sports.”

“As we continue to focus on how to play this season in a safe and responsible way, based on the best advice of medical experts,&nbsp;<a href="https://bigten.org/news/2020/7/9/big-ten-statement-on-2020-21-fall-season.aspx" target="_blank">we are also prepared not to play</a>&nbsp;in order to ensure the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes should the circumstances so dictate,” the league said.

Besides football, the sports affected include men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball.

“By limiting competition to other Big Ten institutions, the conference will have the greatest flexibility to adjust its own operations throughout the season and make quick decisions in real-time based on the most current evolving medical advice and the fluid nature of the pandemic,” the Big Ten said.

The announcement came a day after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/968faf851a0d42f82780168ec57d4733">Ivy League called off fall sports&nbsp;</a>and Stanford announced it was cutting 11 varsity sports as it struggles with the financial impact the virus outbreak is having on its budget.

There was no immediate reaction from the other big conferences, though the SEC, ACC, Big 12 and Pac-12 have all indicated they intend to play fall sports, anchored by football, by far the biggest moneymaker.

Missouri athletic director Jim Sterk was asked about the possible rationale for a conference-only schedule.

“Probably, it’s a comfort level of how protocols are being enacted, how testing is done and then keeping it within that family, if you will — your expanded social circle or social pod,” said Sterk, whose Tigers play in the SEC. “You might be able to control things more that way, or feel like you can, anyway versus the unknown of people coming from outside our 11 states.”

The marquee nonconference matchups in the Big Ten this season included Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin on Oct. 3 at Lambeau Field, home of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers. A handful of teams were scheduled to play two Big Ten opponents, including Bowling Green, Central Michigan and Northern Illinois.

The Big Ten said it would release detailed schedules later and continue to evaluate other sports. The league said its schools will honor scholarships for athletes who choose not to compete in the upcoming academic year because of concerns about the coronavirus.

Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson said he and his Big Ten colleagues “know that there remain many questions that still need to be answered, and we will work toward finding those answers in the coming weeks.”

The Big Ten Conference announced Thursday it will not play nonconference games in football and several other sports this fall, the most dramatic move yet by a power conference because of the coronavirus pandemic.The league cited medical advice in making its decision and added ominously that the plan would be applied only “if the conference is able to participate in fall sports.”“As we continue to focus on how to play this season in a safe and responsible way, based on the best advice of medical experts,&nbsp;<a href="https://bigten.org/news/2020/7/9/big-ten-statement-on-2020-21-fall-season.aspx" target="_blank">we are also prepared not to play</a>&nbsp;in order to ensure the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes should the circumstances so dictate,” the league said.Besides football, the sports affected include men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball.“By limiting competition to other Big Ten institutions, the conference will have the greatest flexibility to adjust its own operations throughout the season and make quick decisions in real-time based on the most current evolving medical advice and the fluid nature of the pandemic,” the Big Ten said.The announcement came a day after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/968faf851a0d42f82780168ec57d4733">Ivy League called off fall sports&nbsp;</a>and Stanford announced it was cutting 11 varsity sports as it struggles with the financial impact the virus outbreak is having on its budget.There was no immediate reaction from the other big conferences, though the SEC, ACC, Big 12 and Pac-12 have all indicated they intend to play fall sports, anchored by football, by far the biggest moneymaker.Missouri athletic director Jim Sterk was asked about the possible rationale for a conference-only schedule.“Probably, it’s a comfort level of how protocols are being enacted, how testing is done and then keeping it within that family, if you will — your expanded social circle or social pod,” said Sterk, whose Tigers play in the SEC. “You might be able to control things more that way, or feel like you can, anyway versus the unknown of people coming from outside our 11 states.”The marquee nonconference matchups in the Big Ten this season included Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin on Oct. 3 at Lambeau Field, home of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers. A handful of teams were scheduled to play two Big Ten opponents, including Bowling Green, Central Michigan and Northern Illinois.The Big Ten said it would release detailed schedules later and continue to evaluate other sports. The league said its schools will honor scholarships for athletes who choose not to compete in the upcoming academic year because of concerns about the coronavirus.Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson said he and his Big Ten colleagues “know that there remain many questions that still need to be answered, and we will work toward finding those answers in the coming weeks.”

Big Ten to limit football, fall sports to conference games

KANSAS CITY,&nbsp;MO (July 9, 2020)&nbsp;—&nbsp;In conjunction with Major League Baseball, the Kansas City Royals today announced their 2021 regular season schedule.&nbsp;All game times will be announced at a later date.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Opening Day is scheduled for Thursday, April 1 at Kauffman Stadium vs. the Texas Rangers, to mark the&nbsp;fifth time in seven years that the Royals will open the season at home.&nbsp;It’ll be the first time the Royals will play the Rangers on Opening Day, and the first time they will open with a non-divisional opponent since starting the 2016 season vs. the New York Mets.

Kansas City will continue its I-70 series vs. St. Louis with three games at Busch Stadium from Aug. 6-8 and three games at Kauffman Stadium from Aug. 13-15. The remaining 14 Interleague games will be played over six series, including three at home and three on the road against the National League Central. This will mark the second consecutive season in which the Royals will face all five National League Central opponents.

Kansas City will host Interleague matchups in 2021 vs. Milwaukee (May 18-19), Pittsburgh (May 31-June 1) and Cincinnati (July 5-7). The road Interleague schedule will take the Royals to Pittsburgh (April 27-28), Milwaukee (July 20-21) and Chicago (Aug. 20-22).&nbsp;This will be the Royals’ first trip to PNC Park in Pittsburgh since 2018, and will mark the second straight season in which they will travel to Milwaukee’s Miller Park and Chicago’s Wrigley Field.&nbsp;

Kansas City’s holiday schedule will see the Royals host Texas on Easter Sunday (April 4), the Chicago White Sox on Mother’s Day (May 9), Pittsburgh on Memorial Day (May 31), Boston on Father’s Day (June 20) and Minnesota on Independence Day (July 4). The Royals will travel to Baltimore on Labor Day (Sept. 6).

The All-Star break will run from July 12-15 and will include the 91st&nbsp;Major League Baseball All-Star Game to be played on Tuesday, July 13 at Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves.

Kansas City will host 81 games at Kauffman Stadium, including 13 in April, 13 in May, 11 in June, 16 in July, 11 in August, 14 in September and three in October.

The Royals will host two 10-game homestands, from April 12-21 vs. Los Angeles, Toronto and Tampa Bay; and from Aug. 9-19 vs. New York, St. Louis and Houston. The Royals are scheduled for four three-city trips, including nine games in 10 days from April 23-May 2 at Detroit, at Pittsburgh and at Minnesota; 10 games in 10 days from June 22-July 1 at New York, Texas and Boston; nine games in 10 days from July 30-Aug. 8 at Toronto, at the Chicago White Sox and at St. Louis; and 10 games in 10 days from Aug. 20-29 at the Chicago Cubs, at Houston and at Seattle.

&nbsp;The game dates are subject to change.&nbsp;For&nbsp;additional information, members of the media may contact the Royals Media Relations Department at (816) 921-8000.

KANSAS CITY,&nbsp;MO (July 9, 2020)&nbsp;—&nbsp;In conjunction with Major League Baseball, the Kansas City Royals today announced their 2021 regular season schedule.&nbsp;All game times will be announced at a later date.&nbsp;&nbsp;Opening Day is scheduled for Thursday, April 1 at Kauffman Stadium vs. the Texas Rangers, to mark the&nbsp;fifth time in seven years that the Royals will open the season at home.&nbsp;It’ll be the first time the Royals will play the Rangers on Opening Day, and the first time they will open with a non-divisional opponent since starting the 2016 season vs. the New York Mets.Kansas City will continue its I-70 series vs. St. Louis with three games at Busch Stadium from Aug. 6-8 and three games at Kauffman Stadium from Aug. 13-15. The remaining 14 Interleague games will be played over six series, including three at home and three on the road against the National League Central. This will mark the second consecutive season in which the Royals will face all five National League Central opponents.Kansas City will host Interleague matchups in 2021 vs. Milwaukee (May 18-19), Pittsburgh (May 31-June 1) and Cincinnati (July 5-7). The road Interleague schedule will take the Royals to Pittsburgh (April 27-28), Milwaukee (July 20-21) and Chicago (Aug. 20-22).&nbsp;This will be the Royals’ first trip to PNC Park in Pittsburgh since 2018, and will mark the second straight season in which they will travel to Milwaukee’s Miller Park and Chicago’s Wrigley Field.&nbsp;Kansas City’s holiday schedule will see the Royals host Texas on Easter Sunday (April 4), the Chicago White Sox on Mother’s Day (May 9), Pittsburgh on Memorial Day (May 31), Boston on Father’s Day (June 20) and Minnesota on Independence Day (July 4). The Royals will travel to Baltimore on Labor Day (Sept. 6).The All-Star break will run from July 12-15 and will include the 91st&nbsp;Major League Baseball All-Star Game to be played on Tuesday, July 13 at Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves.Kansas City will host 81 games at Kauffman Stadium, including 13 in April, 13 in May, 11 in June, 16 in July, 11 in August, 14 in September and three in October.The Royals will host two 10-game homestands, from April 12-21 vs. Los Angeles, Toronto and Tampa Bay; and from Aug. 9-19 vs. New York, St. Louis and Houston. The Royals are scheduled for four three-city trips, including nine games in 10 days from April 23-May 2 at Detroit, at Pittsburgh and at Minnesota; 10 games in 10 days from June 22-July 1 at New York, Texas and Boston; nine games in 10 days from July 30-Aug. 8 at Toronto, at the Chicago White Sox and at St. Louis; and 10 games in 10 days from Aug. 20-29 at the Chicago Cubs, at Houston and at Seattle.&nbsp;The game dates are subject to change.&nbsp;For&nbsp;additional information, members of the media may contact the Royals Media Relations Department at (816) 921-8000.

Royals announce 2021 regular season schedule

&nbsp;CHARLOTTE, NC -The NJCAA announced via social media Thursday that&nbsp; the NJCAA Presidential Advisory Council has recommended that a majority of competition move to the spring semester of 2021. An official plan of action will be determined on Monday, July 13.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hutchpost.com will report more on this decision when it is made available.&nbsp; No mention in the post regarding NJCAA Football.

&nbsp;CHARLOTTE, NC -The NJCAA announced via social media Thursday that&nbsp; the NJCAA Presidential Advisory Council has recommended that a majority of competition move to the spring semester of 2021. An official plan of action will be determined on Monday, July 13.&nbsp;&nbsp;<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FNJCAA%2Fphotos%2Fa.250100794630%2F10158309323909631%2F%3Ftype%3D3&width=500" width="500" height="419" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>Hutchpost.com will report more on this decision when it is made available.&nbsp; No mention in the post regarding NJCAA Football.