In roughly five months, the first College Football Playoff power rankings will be released and the race for the four-team crusade will officially take off.

On Thursday, a legion of ESPN writers came together and put together a list of legitimate playoff contenders from each power conference. When it comes to the SEC, there is no shortage — in Alex Scarborough’s mind, there are a total of five different teams that could end up taking the conference’s crown and then ultimately compete for the game’s grand prize.

Stating that Alabama is the clear favorite after winning last season’s title while returning “a loaded defense, a slew of skill players and the best coach in the game,” Scarborough also includes LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Florida in the mix.

“All LSU needs is a quarterback, but that’s a big ask,” he wrote. “Ole Miss has to prove it’s more than Robert Nkemdiche, Laquon Treadwell and Laremy Tunsil, but the Rebs have the best quarterback in the league in Chad Kelly, and that counts for a lot.

“The East, while not as talented as the West, has a shot because the conference title game can act as a virtual play-in game to the playoff,” he continues. “Tennessee, which has to weather this turbulent offseason, has the potential for a breakthrough season with so much young talent coming into its prime. Florida, on the other hand, has been quiet, which is a good thing for Jim McElwain, who reached Atlanta in Year 1 and should be in better shape offensively this go ’round.”

Auburn and Georgia fans might disagree, but one thing is for sure — the SEC is wide open this year, and could be completely up for grabs come November.