ESPN just updated its Football Power Index.

LSU and Tennessee were in the top 5. Three more SEC teams appeared in the top 10. According to the poll, half of the country’s 10 best teams are in the SEC. (And we’re worried about satellite camps? Please.)

What about the other playoff contenders? Who poses the biggest threat?

Several — based on the quality of their quarterback.

To nobody’s surprise, the first eight quarterbacks to reach the playoffs could play a little bit. The weakest link both years was Alabama’s quarterback.

In 2014, Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota reached the playoffs and then went No. 1 and No. 2 in the following NFL draft. By season’s end, nobody was hotter than Ohio State’s Cardale Jones, who had a Super Joe Charboneau like rise and fall.

Last season, Deshaun Watson led the ACC with 4,104 yards passing and 35 touchdowns. He finished third in the Heisman — and runner-up to Alabama in the championship game. In the semifinal, he knocked off an Oklahoma team led by Baker Mayfield, who threw 36 touchdown passes, tying for sixth-most in the country.

Alabama shut down Connor Cook, but few in the Big Ten did. Cook finished second in that league in passing yards and touchdowns.

This season, Watson is back, as a Heisman favorite whose Tigers were ranked No. 4 in the FPI poll.

Mayfield also returns. He’s also a Heisman favorite and his Sooners are ranked No. 3.

Florida State jumped LSU to claim the No. 1 spot in the FPI poll. The Seminoles again will lean on Heisman candidate Dalvin Cook as they sort out another quarterback competition.

Sean Maguire has the lead entering preseason camp, but he won’t remind anybody of Winston. He threw four interceptions in the Seminoles’ 38-24 bowl loss to Houston. Inconsistent quarterback play doomed FSU’s playoff hopes last season and it’s likely the reason Clemson will be the preseason favorite to repeat as ACC champions.

The Noles open the season against Chad Kelly and No. 7 Ole Miss in Orlando. The magnitude of that game alone should give Maguire the edge in winning the job. That’s not the ideal setting for rookie orientation.

USC and Oklahoma State follow several SEC teams at No. 8 and No. 9, respectively, in the FPI poll.

The Trojans have a rookie head coach and are starting over at quarterback following Cody Kessler’s graduation. They’ll do well to win the Pac-12. UCLA, at No. 13, is a far bigger playoff threat as it returns Josh Rosen, who threw for 3,670 yards and 23 touchdowns as a true freshman last season.

Rosen was the top-rated pro-style quarterback in the 2015 class and already is appearing at the top of 2018 NFL mock drafts.

Oklahoma State stayed in playoff contention most of last year, thanks to a South Carolina product who got away.

Mason Rudolph, a rising junior from Rock Hill, threw for 3,770 yards and 21 touchdowns last season as a first-time starter. He was injured and missed the Oklahoma game last season, a loss that ended the Cowboys’ playoff bid.

Michigan, at No. 11, is the first Big Ten team to appear in the FPI poll.

The Wolverines also are starting over at quarterback following Jake Rudock’s departure to the NFL.

SB Nation wrote in January that Jim Harbaugh had everything he needs to make a playoff run.

Well, he still needs a quarterback — and playoff history has shown you won’t get there without a good one.

Chris Wright is Senior Editor at SaturdayDownSouth.com. Email him at cwright@saturdaydownsouth.com.