You could say that the 2014 college football season started Saturday, when Sam Houston State played Eastern Washington, or Wednesday, when Georgia State played Abilene Christian, or tomorrow, when a bunch of teams play, or on the first college football Saturday of the year.

Or you could say it starts right about now -- Thursday, at midnight -- because right now, a bunch of crazy Texas A&M fans and a bunch of crazy South Carolina fans are gathered outside the South Carolina state capitol yelling at each other:

This is all perfectly explainable.

You see, the midnight before A&M games, fans gather for Yell Practice, which is pretty much just practicing cheers. (I look forward to at least three emails in my inbox explaining that I'm demeaning their tradition by describing it in this way. Texas A&M fans are unique.)

The A&M hordes in Columbia decided, hey, might as well do this directly outside South Carolina's state capitol:

It's time for a fightin' Texas Aggie yell practice in South Carolina! The #12thMan is in full force! pic.twitter.com/ybwMsNGX0R — Scott Jarvis (@sjarvis00) August 28, 2014

However, South Carolina fans did not like this idea:

#gamecock fans turn out to defend the State House. Shouting down the #Aggies. pic.twitter.com/PEYe07LT27 — Rick Henry (@RickHenry10) August 28, 2014

Pretty sweet view for the "Midnight Yell" at the state Capitol. About 50-50 between Gamecocks and Aggies. pic.twitter.com/gYZUzc3x4s — Rixon Lane (@FastLaneSports) August 28, 2014

College football ensued:

Really angry TAMU fan to my left: "This is supposed to be our thing!" — Kaci Barfield (@KaciBarfield) August 28, 2014

There is a Gamecock mob forming right above the yell leaders. And we haven't even officially started yet. This could get interesting. — Rixon Lane (@FastLaneSports) August 28, 2014

Now we've got a cop on the PA system telling Gamecocks to move away from the yell leaders. — Rixon Lane (@FastLaneSports) August 28, 2014

One TAMU fan says he's never seen opposition like this. That includes a Yell Practice at the capitol before the Texas game. — David Cloninger (@DCTheState) August 28, 2014

Aggies swaying side to side with linked arms. USC fans boo. — David Cloninger (@DCTheState) August 28, 2014

USC fans chant "Where's Johnny?" TAMU answers, "Same as Connor." USC: "Connor's better." — David Cloninger (@DCTheState) August 28, 2014

College football is upon us, friends.