University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel is pumping the brakes on some of the optimism regarding the 2020 college football season and NCAA athletics in general.

Recently, Schlissel spoke with the Wall Street Journal regarding the possibility of having a college football season this fall. While the NCAA has lifted its moratorium on organized team activities on campus and some B1G programs have plans to return student-athletes to campus in the coming weeks, the UM president wasn’t quite as confident the season will happen.

“If there is no on-campus instruction then there won’t be intercollegiate athletics, at least for Michigan,” Schlissel told the Wall Street Journal. 

Schlissel also stated that there is “some degree of doubt as to whether there will be college athletics [anywhere], at least in the fall.”

Those comments are somewhat surprising considering the momentum heading in the direction of having a college football season this year. Already, Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa and Ohio State have announced plans to have student-athletes return to campus for voluntary team activities beginning as early as June 1.

All four are planning to have gradual return dates with small groups coming back at staggered times. The capacity of weight rooms, meeting rooms and other areas on campus will also be limited.

So, while there seems to be plenty of growing confidence and optimism regarding the upcoming college football season, Schlissel is still cautious about the future. And it goes to show that the return of the sport is not yet a 100 percent guarantee at this time.