My AP Top 25 rankings: Oregon, Texas, UCLA fall as FSU, UCF, Washington win big

The college football playoff picture is coming into focus.

If Georgia keeps winning, the Bulldogs will finish No. 1. If TCU stays undefeated, the Horned Frogs will stay in the top four. It also seems like the Ohio State/Michigan winner is guaranteed a spot, so long as it goes on to also win the Big Ten championship.

The fourth team is the only real mystery at the moment. Tennessee would seem to be the strongest candidate, but the Volunteers aren’t going to win the SEC. USC will remain in the running if it keeps winning. So will Clemson, with North Carolina serving as a longshot candidate. What about the Ohio State/Michigan loser? What if TCU suffers only one loss but wins the Big 12?

Is there any way Alabama or LSU could re-enter the equation?

All those options are on the table this week, but it certainly seems like Oregon and UCLA are out of the mix after they both suffered home losses on Saturday. They both took a tumble out of my top 10.

Washington was the biggest riser on my ballot following its win at Oregon. I didn’t rank the Huskies last week. Now they are at No. 18.

Central Florida also surged all the way up to No. 14 after it went on the road and beat Tulane. The Knights are suddenly looking like the best team from the Group of Five conferences.

Three new top 25 teams

Join me as I give a warm welcome to Washington (18), Florida State (21), Coastal Carolina (23) and Cincinnati (25) to my top 25.

I was down on the Huskies and the Seminoles after they lost some early games but both teams have come on strong of late. Washington looked terrific in its upset over Oregon. Florida State had no issues with Syracuse. Coastal Carolina and Cincinnati keep winning. They are all in the club this week.

Farewell to five

We had to say goodbye to four teams this week. They all lost on Saturday and simply don’t have good enough records to remain in the top 25 any longer.

Baylor, North Carolina State, Kentucky, Texas and Illinois are all on the way out. The Bears, the Longhorns and the Wolf Pack could play their way back in with wins down the stretch, but I don’t see myself voting for Kentucky again after it lost to Vanderbilt or North Carolina State following its loss to Boston College. But college football is a volatile sport, so maybe they will find a way back into the circle of trust.

On deck

If I ranked 30 teams instead of 25 I would strongly consider the following teams: SMU, Troy, North Carolina State, Texas and Fresno State now that Jake Haener is back at quarterback.

Kellis Robinett’s Top 25

1. Georgia (1)

2. Ohio State (2)

3. Michigan (3)

4. TCU (4)

5. Tennessee (5)

6. USC (7)

7. LSU (9)

8. Utah (10)

9. Clemson (11)

10. Alabama (7)

11. Penn State (15)

12. North Carolina (16)

13. Notre Dame (20)

14. UCF (24)

15. Oregon (8)

16. Ole Miss (12)

17. UCLA (11)

18. Washington (NR)

19. Kansas State (21)

20. Tulane (15)

21. Florida State (NR)

22. UTSA (25)

23. Coastal Carolina (NR)

24. Cincinnati (NR)

25. Minnesota (NR)

Last week’s ranking in parentheses.