feat: next release from main branch is 2.9.0 (#2614)

Author: blakeli0

.github/release-please.yml

@@ -26,3 +26,7 @@ branches:
     handleGHRelease: true
     releaseType: java-backport
     branch: 2.7.x
+  - bumpMinorPreMajor: true
+    handleGHRelease: true
+    releaseType: java-backport
+    branch: 2.8.x

.github/sync-repo-settings.yaml

@@ -101,6 +101,20 @@ branchProtectionRules:
       - lint
       - clirr
       - cla/google
+  - pattern: 2.8.x
+    isAdminEnforced: true
+    requiredApprovingReviewCount: 1
+    requiresCodeOwnerReviews: true
+    requiresStrictStatusChecks: false
+    requiredStatusCheckContexts:
+      - units (8)
+      - units (11)
+      - windows
+      - dependencies (8)
+      - dependencies (11)
+      - lint
+      - clirr
+      - cla/google
 permissionRules:
   - team: yoshi-admins
     permission: admin