“Returning starters” are now “starters.” Football is back. Tonight’s lineup is no feast, but after eight months of famine, it will do.

South Carolina vs. Vanderbilt: The Gamecocks were No. 6 in our preseason Top 25, ostensibly because they have three key ingredients for SEC success: a dominant defensive line, a bruising tailback in Marcus Lattimore (if his knee is ready to go) and a solid, if unspectacular quarterback in Connor Shaw. Interested to see how and how often SC deploys Jadeveon Clowney on defense. Perhaps the infamous bucket visor will make an appearance?

James Franklin and Herb Hand have spearheaded a positive PR blitz for Vanderbilt, though this remains a program rebuilding. The Commodores won six games last year, which was a feat. Their target this year is a second-consecutive bowl appearance. This team still should be very defense heavy. They finished 14th in yards allowed per play in 2011, though some of that was conference dependent as they finished 7th in the SEC. The offense will have to be recruited. Jordan Rodgers has a famous last name, but completed just 50 percent of his passes last year and threw more interceptions than touchdowns. For impetus, Vanderbilt will rely on senior running back Zac Stacy, the SEC’s third leading rusher in 2011.

Washington State at BYU: Mike Leach will appear on ESPN’s Thursday Night football. Craig James will not. The eccentric Pirate ship captain should have the pieces at skill positions to fire the canons immediately and get the Cougars back to bowl play. BYU will hope to finally live up to their preseason plaudits. Pivotal will be quarterback Riley Nelson who is undersized, white and beat out a touted recruit. If BYU makes a run, brace for an onslaught of national media articles about his grit, leadership and determination.

Many of us feel like this on the inside…

[Photo via Presswire, Gif via Gifulmation]