My AP Top 25 college football ballot: Michigan, Oklahoma State join playoff picture

It looks like we might finally get some new blood in the College Football Playoff.

Hopefully I’m not jinxing anything here, but there is a good chance Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Oklahoma will all miss out on the playoff after owning a second home on the bracket in previous years.

None of them are currently in my top four.

Instead, I’m going with Georgia at the top spot, followed by Cincinnati and then the two biggest winners of Week 13 -- Michigan and Oklahoma State.

What a time to be alive.

The Wolverines jumped up four spots to No. 3 after thumping Ohio State at home. The Cowboys, who are making me look smart for ranking them all season, climbed two spots to No. 4 following their emotional victory over Oklahoma.

Alabama dropped to No. 5 after it needed four overtimes to survive against a mediocre Auburn team. But the Crimson Tide still control their playoff destiny. They are in, probably as the No. 1 seed, if they beat Georgia next week at the SEC championship game.

Notre Dame is at No. 6. The Fighting Irish will be pulling for Georgia, Iowa, Houston and Baylor next week. An upset or two could create a path for them to finish in the top four.

But things are looking good for a few teams that have never before reached the playoff. If Cincinnati, Michigan and Oklahoma State win their conference championship games they stand a very good chance of playing for a national championship next month.

Going down

It seems unlikely that Ohio State will be a part of the playoff mix now that the Buckeyes have a pair of losses. They dropped to No. 9 on my ballot this week.

The Oklahoma Sooners are likely destined for the Alamo Bowl following their loss to the Cowboys. They dropped to No. 16.

Three other teams took significant tumbles this week. UTSA was knocking on the door of a top 10 ranking last week at 11-0, but a loss to North Texas has them at No. 22 this week. Texas A&M dropped to No. 24 following its loss to LSU and Wisconsin dropped off my ballot after it lost to Minnesota.

New to the party

There is only one new arrival in my top 25 this week. Say hello to North Carolina State, which finished the regular season 9-3.

I like NC State a little more than Appalachian State, Kentucky and Purdue.

My top 25 ballot

Last week’s ranking in parentheses.

1. Georgia (1)

2. Cincinnati (2)

3. Michigan (7)

4. Oklahoma State (6)

5. Alabama (4)

6. Notre Dame (5)

7. Ole Miss (9)

8. Baylor (8)

9. Ohio State (3)

10. BYU (11)

11. Houston (13)

12. Oregon (14)

13. Michigan State (15)

14. Louisiana (17)

15. Iowa (18)

16. Oklahoma (10)

17. Pittsburgh (19)

18. Wake Forest (20)

19. Utah (23)

20. Clemson (24)

21. San Diego State (22)

22. UTSA (12)

23. Arkansas (25)

24. Texas A&M (16)

25. North Carolina State (NR)

Dropped out: Wisconsin.