Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts delivered a reality check to the people of his state on Thursday. A population that loves its football likely perked its ears when it heard the governor talk about Husker football.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic ripping through the country, Ricketts urged the people of his state to comply with the regulations and recommendations that government and health officials are putting in place. If not, Ricketts said, there’s a chance that Nebraska won’t see the field this season.

“If you want to see football this fall, you’d better comply with social distancing measures,” Ricketts said, according to Paul Hammel of the Omaha World-Herald.

The future of college football has been a topic of conversation over the last few weeks, as sports across the country have already shut down, canceling and postponing events. If the COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t see substantial declines by the summer, there’s a good chance the football season will be affected.

Not just in Nebraska, but everywhere.

It may not be the best sign that threatening the 2020 football season is what keeps people in their homes, following government guidelines. But whatever works to help flatten the curve.