As the novel coronavirus pandemic has continued to torment the country and numbers have risen in football-mad states in the south and midwest, talks have increased of the uncertainty of a college football season being played in the fall. On his first day at his new job, Rutgers president Jonathan Holloway addressed the elephant in the room.

“I think we are far from certain that we are going to have a college football season in the fall,” he told NJ.com. “Maybe in the spring, but even then we are just guessing right now.”

In early June, schools began bringing student-athletes back for voluntary workouts and many big-name programs – including LSU and Clemson – announced over 30 positive tests of players. Arizona, Boise State, Houston and Kansas State paused workouts due to outbreaks. Rutgers only has had two positive cases thus far and is still scheduled to open the season on Sept. 5 against Monmouth, granted the season doesn’t get moved to the spring or postponed. It seems unlikely there will be fans at games if the season is held in the fall, which Holloway casted doubt on happening, but didn’t rule out. One way to do that would be by Isolating players.

“You can quarantine a fall sports team, by and large, for the fall semester,” he said. “Not that I am a fan of that, but you can do it and then play a game in front of an empty stadium. It’s not desirable, but it can be done.”