WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump issued an executive order Friday barring College Football Playoff and other postseason games from airing during the annual Army-Navy matchup in December.

Trump directed the commerce secretary and the FCC chairman to coordinate with the playoff committee, the NCAA and media rights partners to ensure an exclusive broadcasting window for a storied rivalry played on the second Saturday each December.

Trump’s order makes reference to potential expansion of the CFP, which likely would lead to an earlier start for the playoff. In the first two years of the 12-team format, the first-round games were the weekend after Army-Navy, which moved off the first Saturday in December in 2009 because of conference championship games.

This year, Army-Navy is scheduled for Dec. 12 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the home of the NFL’s New York Giants and Jets. The CFP first-round games are set for Dec. 18-19.

If the playoff were to expand to 24 teams, a model that has been discussed, at least one more week of games would be required. Starting the postseason earlier in December would be a consideration. A smaller expansion to 16 teams wouldn’t necessarily change the number of weeks required for the playoff.

MLB

Guardians won’t have to pay pitchers: The Cleveland Guardians won’t have to pay indicted pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz while Major League Baseball’s investigation continues into allegations of pitch-rigging for gamblers.

Ortiz was placed on paid leave last July 3 and Clase on July 28, and they received their salaries while they didn’t pitch for the remainder of the season. They were indicted on federal charges on Nov. 9 and a trial is scheduled for May 4 but could be delayed.

“As the legal proceedings involving Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz continue to move forward, MLB and the MLBPA have agreed that both players will remain on non-disciplinary leave from the club without pay until further notice,” Major League Baseball said in a statement Friday.

“This agreement is not an admission of any wrongdoing by Clase or Ortiz,” the statement added. “MLB has been closely monitoring the matter since alerting federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and will have no further comment until its investigation has been completed.”

Twins release veterans: Right-hander Liam Hendriks, left-hander Andrew Chafin and infielder Gio Urshela were released from minor league contracts by the Minnesota Twins.

Minnesota signed the 37-year-old Hendriks to a minor league deal with an invitation to major league spring training on Feb. 12. Hendriks allowed three runs, nine hits and five walks over seven innings while appearing in seven games this spring training.

College basketball

Coach sues college: Tuskegee men’s basketball coach Benjy Taylor filed a lawsuit against Morehouse College and two campus police officers, claiming he suffered emotional and physical harm when he was handcuffed and escorted off the court on Jan. 31.

“He has suffered financial harm, reputational harm, emotional harm as well as physical damages,” Harry Daniels, one of Taylor’s attorneys, told the Associated Press.

Daniels said the lawsuit asks for damages of more than $1 million.

According to the lawsuit, which names campus police officers R. Clark and M. Roberson, members of the Morehouse football team were at the baseline taunting the Tuskegee players during the game. Taylor was concerned the situation would escalate and asked one of the officers for the players to be removed.

The lawsuit claims Clark instead stood by the football players and turned his back while the insults continued. The lawsuit claims Taylor was handcuffed and detained when he insisted the officers enforce security protocols mandated by the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Morehouse won the game 77-69.

Taylor was not charged.

Georgia Tech hires coach: Georgia Tech announced that Troy’s Scott Cross will replace Damon Stoudamire, who was fired on March 8, as its men’s basketball coach.

Georgia Tech athletic director Ryan Alpert moved quickly to hire Cross, who won seven conference championships and 350 games in 19 seasons at Texas-Arlington and Troy. Cross closed out his seventh season at Troy with the school’s second straight Sun Belt championship and NCAA Tournament berth.

Ball State makes hire: Ball State named former SMU associate head coach Chris Capko as its head coach, just two days after the Mustangs were eliminated in March Madness.

It’s the first head coaching job for the 42-year-old Capko, who spent nearly two decades working his way through the ranks of college assistant. He replaces Michael Lewis, who was fired two weeks ago after four sub-par seasons with the Cardinals.

Golf

Im holds lead: Sungjae Im held onto the lead in the Valspar Championship, rallying on the back nine to edge ahead of David Lipsky in firm and fast conditions on the Copperhead course at Innisbrook.

After missing two straight cuts in his return from a wrist injury, Im shot a 2-under 69 to get to 9-under 133 — a stroke ahead of Lipsky. On Thursday morning, Im had two eagles in a 64 for a one-shot advantage over Brandt Snedeker.

On Friday, Im had three bogeys and two birdies in a front-nine 37, then birdied the par-5 11th and par-4 12th. He broke a tie for the lead with a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th.

Soccer

Ronaldo ruled out: A hamstring injury will keep Cristiano Ronaldo out of Portugal’s friendlies against the United States and Mexico ahead of the World Cup in North America.

The 41-year-old Ronaldo hasn’t played since Feb. 28 when he limped off the field while playing for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

As expected, Portugal coach Roberto Martínez did not include the five-time Ballon d’Or winner in the squad he announced. Ronaldo hasn’t played in the U.S. since an August 2014 preseason friendly with Real Madrid against Manchester United in Ann Arbor, Michigan.