Several reasons why Carolina may still play this fall.

When the coronavirus caused most universities to go on-line with their classes last spring and all sports teams on the planet hit the pause button, speculation soon turned to the coming football season.

College administrators were almost unanimous in their belief that if students did not return to campus in the fall, there would be no sports played. So where is UNC now after taking one of Kevin Guskiewicz’s off-ramps and halting in-person classes?

We’ve learned a lot about COVID-19 infections over the months, enough perhaps to change the minds of college chancellors and presidents, as well as athletic conference commissioners.

One, obviously, students have to stay apart to avoid getting infected. At Carolina, the high-rise dorms on South Campus, as well as fraternity and sorority congregate houses, have proven that impossible. Two, with athletic teams staying in their own bubbles, outbreaks can be held down. After 37 positive tests in July, there are apparently little or no infections among players, coaches and staff.

So Tar Heel sports teams are still practicing, while the brass huddles, goes into Zoom meetings with state health officials plus the Board of Governors, and has conference calls with ACC headquarters.

Meanwhile, the UNC athletic department put out a statement that sports teams would remain on campus, practicing together and isolating in their dorms or apartments. For now, that is.

Because athletic programs with the strictest measures can avoid the clusters that shut down the campus, there may be another reason to keep playing, and it goes beyond the millions of dollars at stake.

With the students gone and distancing somewhere, wouldn’t it boost spirits to have football games to watch and teams to cheer for? And, of course, no one really knows what will happen, COVID-wise.

The Big Ten and Pac 12 postponed their seasons, unsure of their players’ safety. That also may justification to play and see how much more we can learn. Doing it both ways could help determine the immediate future of sports.

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