CFP, ESPN agree to $7.8B deal through ’31

The College Football Playoff and ESPN announced a $7.8 billion deal Tuesday that will give the network exclusive rights to the expanded postseason through the 2031 season, with the national championship game moving to ABC starting in 2026.

Specific financial terms weren’t announced, but as previously reported the new six-year agreement will pay the CFP and participating conferences $1.3 billion annually.

„ Clemson has filed a lawsuit against the ACC, joining Florida State in challenging the league’s right to charge hundreds of millions of dollars to leave . ... Kansas coach Bill Self announced that senior G Kevin McCullar Jr. won’t play in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. McCullar, the Jayhawks’ leading scorer, missed six of the final 12 games of the season, including the Big 12 tournament, with a bone bruise on his knee.

Hockey: Retired Belarusian player-turned-coach

Konstantin Koltsov died in Florida. He was 42. MiamiDade Police called it an apparent suicide. Koltsov had been dating secondranked women’s tennis player Aryna Sabalenka, who was set to play in a tournament in Miami. Koltsov had been serving as an assistant coach for a team in the KHL. He played in 144 NHL games for the Penguins from 2003-06.

NFL: New Saints DE Chase Young is expected to miss part of training camp after undergoing a neck procedure, ESPN reported . ... The Jets and ex-Chargers WR Mike Williams, 29, agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $15 million, ESPN reported.

Olympics: The IOC announced that Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be allowed to take part in the traditional parade at the opening ceremony at this summer’s Paris Olympics. Due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, athletes from there and Belarus will compete at the Olympics as neutrals.