We are ranking every opponent on Missouri’s schedule from No. 12 to No. 1 before the start of the regular season. Here are the previous installments: The weak links, Feisty non-conference foes, The Volunteer State, Early litmus test and The Replacements.

You may have noticed Texas A&M, which beat South Carolina by 24 points Thursday night, at No. 4 on this list, while the Gamecocks are at No. 2, and scratch your head.

That’s fair, considering I created this list before the SEC opener. But I still think the Gamecocks represent one of Missouri’s toughest tests for the season, maybe even moreso than the Aggies. One game does not a season make, even though we’re entering the time of year famous for creating overreactions.

2. at South Carolina

The Gamecocks’ defense got shredded Thursday by a first-year starter. Gone are Jadeveon Clowney and Kelcy Quarles, also an All-American, from the defensive line, and moving to a 3-4 front just did not suit South Carolina, at least to start the season.

Texas A&M and Kenny Hill attacked the secondary, thought to be the Gamecocks’ weakness entering 2014, so Maty Mauk and Missouri’s pass offense will hope it can iron out any small issues during the non-conference schedule to be able to take advantage.

Again, it didn’t seem like it Thursday, but Williams-Brice Stadium is a difficult venue in which to play.

Part of the mirage of Thursday’s result is that Texas A&M’s defense “held” South Carolina to 28 points despite giving up several big pass plays. Quarterback Dylan Thompson has a tough task in replacing Connor Shaw, but had a “solid night” despite the loss. Mike Davis, perhaps the team’s best player, carried the ball just six times, all in the first half, before removing himself due to injured ribs.

This team is predicated on running the football with Davis and stopping the run. If the Gamecocks hadn’t trailed by multiple scores early in the game, the entire complexion would’ve changed. Instead the deficit forced South Carolina into an imbalanced offense, the team had trouble sustaining drives and the defense had no place to hide.

South Carolina doesn’t appear to be a team that’s going to overcome the kind of 17-point deficit it did against Missouri last season. But make no mistake, on the road, the Gamecocks still can be one of the SEC’s toughest opponents if they take a lead.

Presumed standouts Shaq Roland and Damiere Byrd combined for just two catches against A&M, though Byrd made his count for a 46-yard touchdown. Instead, Nick Jones, Pharoh Cooper and Rory Anderson combined for 11 catches. The Gamecocks may spread the pass attempts among several players, similar to what we expect from Missouri in 2014.

After winning 11 games in each of the last three seasons, South Carolina and Steve Spurrier have lost a lot of talent to the NFL. But it’s difficult to imagine them fading from SEC East favorites to the level of Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Kentucky.

With Georgia, Florida and, yes, Missouri left on the schedule (and two of those three are home games), Spurrier’s team remains a threat to take down the SEC East.

Speaking of Georgia, a quick history lesson: The Bulldogs started the season 0-2 in 2011, then advanced to the SEC Championship against LSU.

Tigers fans who count out South Carolina may be in for a rude awakening next month, but a loss by the Gamecocks (and Commodores) puts Missouri a half-game ahead of the SEC East favorites.