College Football Power Rankings, Week 12: Pac-10 Wide Receivers

It's getting down to crunch time in the Pac-10.

With Rivalry Week coming up, opportunities for moving up (or into) the power rankings are running thin.

Nonetheless, the wide variety of positive and poor performances by wide-receivers on the West Coast in recent weeks has left plenty of wiggle room on the list.

Here's how things shook out after Week 12's games.

10. Jermaine Kearse, Washington

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SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 11: D'Andre Goodwin #11 of the Washington Huskies smiles after Jermaine Kearse #15 scored a touchdown against the Syracuse Orange on September 11, 2010 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

After several weeks on the downslope, Jermaine Kearse–formerly the top-ranked receiver–finds himself hanging by a thread on the list.

Thanks to a week off for Washington, he gets to stay on the list without putting up any new numbers.

That being said, Kearse will have to prove his worth against UCLA on Thursday night if he's to maintain a relevant spot in the power rankings.

Last week's ranking: 10th

9. Ronald Johnson, USC

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LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 16: Ronald Johnson #83 of the USC Trojans celebrates his touchdown iwth Rhett Ellison #40 for a 35-0 lead over the California Golden Bears during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 16, 2010 in Los Ang

Saturday's game between USC and Arizona was full of surprises.

And not just the Trojans pulling off the upset, 24-21.

Despite playing for the winning side, Ronald Johnson finds himself falling further down the rankings this week after accumulating a meager 25 yards on two catches against the Wildcats.

Though Johnson is clearly capable of being ranked much higher (as he was earlier in the season), his less-than-stellar play in recent weeks has led to his steady drop.

Last week's ranking: sixth

8. Robert Woods, USC

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PALO ALTO, CA - OCTOBER 09: Robert Woods #13 of the USC Trojans cools down next to a spray fan during their game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on October 9, 2010 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Like his Trojan teammate, Robert Woods hasn't exactly been filling up the stat sheet, at least since his breakout performance against Stanford.

Though Woods racked up a notable eight catches against Arizona, he only managed to spin those grabs into 41 yards.

If not for his return yardage (three kick-off returns for 64 yards), Woods would likely be farther down in the rankings.

Last week's ranking: seventh

7. Marvin Jones, Cal

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BERKELEY, CA - OCTOBER 24: Marvin Jones #1 of the California Golden Bears scores a touchdown in the 1st half against the Washington State Cougars at California Memorial Stadium on October 24, 2009 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty I

It's tough to blame Marvin Jones for his own numbers last week.

After all, his Cal Bears put up quite a fight against top-ranked Oregon, losing a 15-13 heartbreaker to the Ducks.

Nonetheless, it's just as tough not to drop Jones out of the top five after he accounted for only 24 yards on three catches.

He'll need a big game in the Big Game against seventh-ranked Stanford to put himself back with the cream of the crop.

Last week's ranking: fourth

6. Terrence Miller, Arizona

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TUCSON, AZ - OCTOBER 09: Tight end Terrence Miller #87 of the Arizona Wildcats during the college football game against the Oregon State Beavers at Arizona Stadium on October 9, 2010 in Tucson, Arizona. The Beavers defeated the Wildcats 29-27. (Photo by

This week's one-timer goes to Arizona's Terrence Miller, who put up seven catches for 116 yards, albeit in a losing effort for the Wildcats.

In statistical terms, Miller's performance against USC was definitely an outlier, but an impressive and noteworthy one nonetheless.

Last week's ranking: not ranked

5. Marquess Wilson, Washington State

If this list were all about winning, Marquess Wilson would find himself moving up this week.

After all, Washington State won its first Pac-10 conference game in two seasons by surprising Oregon State, 31-14.

However, in that win, Wilson accounted for only one catch–though that one catch did go for a 33-yard touchdown.

Thus, Wilson finds himself lower this week than he had been in a while, but not outside of the top five.

Last week's ranking: third

4. Doug Baldwin, Stanford

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

SEATTLE - OCTOBER 30: Wide receiver Doug Baldwin #89 of the Stanford Cardinal warms up prior to the game against the Washington Huskies on October 30, 2010 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. Stanford won 41-0. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Amidst a tough game between Stanford and Arizona State, Doug Baldwin emerged a winner.

After spending most of the season hovering in the lower rungs of the top 10, Baldwin finally broke into the upper echelon with a 10-catch, 122-yard performance for the Cardinal against the Sun Devils.

Baldwin will have an excellent opportunity to prove that he belongs with the Big Game against Cal this Saturday.

Last week's ranking: ninth

3. Markus Wheaton, Oregon State

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PASADENA, CA - NOVEMBER 06: Markus Wheaton #2 of the Oregon State Beavers looks to run after a catch against the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl on November 6, 2010 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Markus Wheaton seems to have found his comfort zone as Oregon State's top receiver, even as the Beavers continue to struggle.

Wheaton accounted for all of the Beavs' points against Washington State, putting up 97 yards and two touchdowns on six catches.

Should Oregon State pull off yet another upset of USC in Corvallis this weekend, Wheaton will likely share the spotlight with his more heralded teammate, running back Jacquizz Rodgers.

Last week's ranking: eighth

2. Jeff Maehl, Oregon

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BERKELEY, CA - NOVEMBER 13: Jeff Maehl #23 of the Oregon Ducks outruns Josh Hill #23 of the California Golden Bears to score a touchdown at California Memorial Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Some would argue that Jeff Maehl deserves to be back in the top spot this week.

In a game against Cal that featured minimal scoring, Maehl delivered 84 yards and a touchdown on five catches.

Having the week off won't help his case to move up, but Maehl will have a chance to go head-to-head next week with the one receiver ahead of him.

Last week's ranking: second

1. Juron Criner, Arizona

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TUCSON, AZ - OCTOBER 23: Wide receiver Juron Criner #82 of the Arizona Wildcats runs with the ball during the college football game against the Washington Huskies at Arizona Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Tucson, Arizona. The Wildcats defeated the Husk

Arizona's Juron Criner held onto the top spot by a hair.

His six catches for 98 yards in the Wildcats' losing effort against USC was just enough to hold off Oregon's Jeff Maehl.

Criner will be back in first by default in the next edition with a day off this Saturday.

However, he'll have to bring it next week when he and the 'Cats match up with Maehl's Ducks.

Last week's ranking: first