ACC reveals football plan that includes Notre Dame

The Atlantic Coast Conference announced plans Wednesday for an 11-game conference football season that will include Notre Dame as a member.

The Irish will play football in a conference for the first time in 133 years. Notre Dame competes in the ACC in all sports except football and hockey.

The ACC's 14 university presidents approved a plan for an 11-game schedule, including one nonconference game, and for delaying the first week to Sept. 7 and the league championship game to Dec. 12 or 19.

The ACC will eliminate its divisional format this season. The two teams with the best winning percentages will play in the league championship game.

All of that depends on the season being played. NCAA President Mark Emmert said Tuesday he remains "very concerned" about the status of fall sports.

The schedule rules out three early-season games in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium: North Carolina against Auburn; Virginia against Georgia; and Florida State against West Virginia.

New York Giants left tackle Nate Solder, who started every game the past two seasons, was among players who opted out of the 2020 season because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the agreement reached last week between the NFL and the players' union, players can choose not to play in 2020 without penalty. Among others opting out was Kansas City running back Damien Williams, who had 290 rushing yards and six touchdowns in three postseason games last season.

Philadelphia Pro Bowl tackle Lane Johnson was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

General Manager John Lynch agreed to a new five-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers.

Lou Henson, who took New Mexico State and Illinois to the Final Four during a 21-year coaching career that included nearly 800 victories, has died in Champaign, Ill. He was 88.

Henson retired as the leader in coaching victories at both Illinois and New Mexico State.

The new policy will begin as soon as fans are allowed into Chicago's United Center for games or events.

"These symbols are sacred … and should not be generalized or used as a costume," the team said in a statement.

Tennis: Ash Barty, the top-ranked woman in the world, said she will skip the U.S. Open because of concerns about COVID-19.

Golf: The U.S. Open announced it will not have fans Sept. 17-20 at Winged Foot in New York because of the pandemic. Among golf majors, only the Masters, now scheduled for November, holds out hope of hosting spectators.

LPGA: Gaby Lopez of Mexico became the first LPGA Tour player to test positive for the coronavirus as the tour returns this week for the Drive On Championship in Ohio. Lopez withdrew and is in isolation.

WNBA: Dallas defeated New York 93-80 in Bradenton, Fla., overcoming a 33-point game by rookie Sabrina Ionescu, the top pick in the last draft. Ionescu also had seven assists and seven rebounds.