Think you've gone a long time without your weekly fix of college football?

You could be BYU receiver McKay Jacobson, a returned LDS Church missionary from football-crazy Texas who was in Japan in early September the last two years, hungering for any bit of information he could get regarding his beloved game.

"Words can't really describe how eager I am to play some college football, even watch some college football," he said. "I could play tomorrow. I eat it all up, every bit of it."

And we only have to wait a few more days.

For this state's fans, the fun starts Thursday, and it is even sort of symmetrical, as No. 19 Utah plays host to Utah State in a northern battle of state schools, and Southern Utah entertains Dixie State in a southern showdown.

Saturday, Weber State takes the long bus ride to Laramie to test the Wyoming Cowboys, while BYU will play on those other Cowboys' new field. The No. 20-ranked Cougars meet up with No. 3 Oklahoma in that long-awaited game at "Jerry's World" in Arlington, Texas.

Because of what Utah did last year, what BYU has accomplished in Bronco Mendenhall's four-year tenure and the attitude that new USU coach Gary Andersen has seemingly instilled in Logan, this is arguably the most eagerly awaited college football season in state history.

"Everybody is pumped this time of year," BYU defensive end Jan Jorgensen said. "Season openers just can't get here fast enough."

Storylines are plentiful all around the Beehive State.

At Utah, everyone is wondering which quarterback -- freshman Jordan Wynn or junior college transfer Terrance Cain -- will job out on the field Thursday to take the first snap against the Aggies. Although Utah coach Kyle Whittingham has said there will be no official announcement, those who have observed the most practices will be shocked if it is not Cain.

Asked if he had any plans for his last weekend before the season starts, Whittingham sad, "Maybe a little rest. The mind never shuts off; it is football season."

The Utes feel good about their overall health, but would like to get defensive end Koa Misi and offensive lineman Caleb Schlauderaff back sooner than later.

Aggie followers, meanwhile, are eager to see what Andersen can do in Logan. But a road game against the team with the longest winning streak in the nation -- and Andersen's former school, no less -- is probably not the best formula for a successful start.

At BYU, it has been all systems go since that January day when it was announced the Cougars would open the season against one of college football's elite programs, Oklahoma. Have the Cougars bitten off more than they can chew?

Probably, even diehard fans of the blue will acknowledge, but quarterback Max Hall says it won't be for lack of effort or preparation.

"We feel like we're ready to go down there and put up a fight," Hall said.

The Cougars' fall camp was marked by one injury after another, but they've slowly recovered from most of the physical setbacks and could go into the OU game with all but one player -- left guard Jason Speredon -- they were counting on when camp began.

With one of the state's better quarterbacks in Cameron Higgins and a No. 7 ranking in the Football Championship Subdivision, optimism is high in Ogden for Weber State.

Coach Ron McBride's Wildcats will take on two MWC foes in a row. After Wyoming this week, they travel to Fort Collins, Colo., next week to meet Colorado State.

At Southern Utah, well-traveled quarterback Cade Cooper makes his debut for the Thunderbirds against Dixie State, after having also made stops at Snow College, BYU and Oregon.

The Red Storm, meanwhile, got a jump on everyone else, having defeated Mesa State of Colorado 37-28 last Thursday.

drew@sltrib.com