The 2016 season starts Thursday night for three SEC East teams. The other four play Saturday. Here’s one thing you need to know about each divisional team’s opening opponent:

UMass (at Florida)

UMass 2015 PPG: 22.2

UMass 2015 allowed: 31.4

Strength: Massachusetts had a serviceable passing attack last season, ranking 37th nationally with 257.5 yards per game. But that was with Blake Frohnapfel running the show, a 6-foot-6 quarterback who graduated following the season and has worked out for a few NFL teams.

Must stop: Replacing Frohnapfel is sophomore Ross Comis, a relatively inexperienced and undersized signal-caller who earned the starting nod ahead of JUCO transfer Andrew Ford. The Minutemen’s offense will flow through Comis and running back Marquis Young, the team’s leading rusher as a freshman last season.

Notable: After elevating to the FBS level as a member of the MAC in 2012, UMass will become an Independent beginning this season.

North Carolina (vs. Georgia, in Atlanta)

UNC 2015 PPG: 40.7

UNC 2015 allowed: 24.5

Strength: The Tar Heels lost quarterback Marquise Williams to graduation, but there shouldn’t be much of a drop in production for 2015’s ninth-best scoring offense. With the return of three of the team’s four leading receivers and bruising running back Elijah Hood behind four incumbent offensive linemen, junior quarterback Mitch Trubisky should have a relatively easy time transitioning from backup to starter.

Must stop: Hood broke out as a sophomore last season, and he’ll be looking to build on his 1,463-yard, 17-touchdown performance as a junior. Speedy senior receiver Ryan Switzer is as big of a threat in the slot as he is in the return game.

Notable: The Tar Heels opened their 2010 slate against an SEC team in the Georgia Dome, as well, when LSU defeated UNC 30-24. The Tar Heels lost to South Carolina in last year’s opener, in Charlotte, N.C.

Southern Miss (at Kentucky)

Southern Miss 2015 PPG: 39.9

Southern Miss 2015 allowed: 25.6

Strength: This bunch sure loves to throw the football, and that probably won’t change under first-year coach Jay Hopson. All that passing resulting in touchdowns, too — the Golden Eagles finished 13th nationally in scoring last season at just shy of 40 points per game.

Must stop: Senior quarterback Nick Mullens is the cornerstone of the offense, evidenced by the single-season school records he set for passing yards (4,476) and touchdowns (38) last year. Southern Miss also returns junior Ito Smith, one of its two 1,000-yard rushers from a season ago.

Notable: 2016 marks Southern Miss’ 100th football season

West Virginia (vs. Missouri)

West Virginia 2015 PPG: 34.0

West Virginia 2015 allowed: 24.6

Strength: The Mountaineers had one of the most balanced offenses in the nation last year, averaging 228.2 rushing yards per game and 251.5 through the air. Missouri will need to respect both aspects if it hopes to leave Morgantown with a win.

Must stop: Senior quarterback Skyler Howard flashed his dual-threat chops last season, and he’ll likely be more involved in the running game with 1,500-yard rusher Wendell Smallwood departed for the NFL. With the team’s top two receivers returning, the inconsistent Howard will be expected to improve on his 54.8 completion percentage, as well.

Notable: West Virginia virtually replaced Missouri as a Big 12 member in 2011, accepting an invitation to join the conference just nine days before the SEC officially announced the Tigers had joined its league. The two teams have not played each other since the moves.

Vanderbilt (vs. South Carolina, Thursday)

Vanderbilt 2015 PPG: 15.2

Vanderbilt 2015 allowed: 21.0

Strength: Derek Mason is all about defense. In the coach’s second year at the helm, Vanderbilt ranked inside the top 30 in scoring defense and total defense while being particularly stingy on third down and in the red zone.

Must stop: Junior linebacker Zach Cunningham is the heart and soul of the defense, so keeping him blocked and accounted for will be a priority for the Gamecocks’ struggling offense. He led the squad in tackles (103), tackles for loss (16.5), sacks (4.5) and forced fumbles (4) last season.

Notable: Vanderbilt has lost every yearly meeting with South Carolina since 2008.

South Carolina (at Vanderbilt, Thursday)

South Carolina 2015 PPG: 21.9

South Carolina 2015 allowed: 27.5

Strength: South Carolina didn’t do much of anything well last year, so we’ll refer to the old adage “strength in numbers” for this one. Fifth-year senior Perry Orth is the anticipated starter at quarterback, but talented true freshman Brandon McIlwain should get some snaps. One will surely pan out, right?

Must stop: There’s no specific player here, but rather the group of running backs. South Carolina coach Will Muschamp has hinted at a committee approach to the running game, and if the Gamecocks can’t get that part of their offense rolling, it’ll shift all the pressure to quarterbacks.

Notable: South Carolina went 0-5 to close the year after beating Vanderbilt 19-10 last season.

Appalachian State (at Tennessee, Thursday)

Appalachian State 2015 PPG: 36.7

Appalachian State 2015 allowed: 19.1

Strength: Despite returning junior quarterback Taylor Lamb and senior running back Marcus Cox, the Mountaineers’ defense is their biggest weapon. Appalachian State brings back nine starters to a defense that ranked first nationally in red zone defense, 11th in total defense and 14th in scoring defense last year.

Must stop: The Mountaineers aren’t wanting for offensive firepower, either. Cox gained nearly 1,500 yards on the ground last year while Lamb finished 10th nationally in passer rating (160.71), though the junior gun-slinger will be without three of last year’s top four receivers.

Notable: Appalachian State hasn’t struggled moving from FCS up to FBS — the Mountaineers are 18-7 overall and 13-3 in conference play since joining the Sun Belt in 2014. And they’ll always have that 2007 Michigan upset on their resume.