Saturday will mark the third time I've covered BYU football as it crosses paths with my beat.

The age of BYU players is always topical, relative to the Mormon mission on which many players have served.

The BYU game notes say that 42 members of the football program are currently away serving, while 69 players currently on the roster have served.

While covering Mississippi State I saw BYU twice, in 2000 in Provo, the last season of Lavell Edwards as coach and in 2001 in Starkville, the first season under Gary Crowton.

Then-MSU coach Jackie Sherrill had lots to say about the age of BYU players, but he also had a player who had been on a Mormon mission, offensive lineman Brad Weathers of Liberty.

Weathers served upon his graduation from Amite County in 1998.

Missionaries are typically between the ages of 19 and 25, and the missions last two years.

That does tend to make college football players older and could be advantage, perhaps, depending on the maturity level of the individual.