I am sorry but I just do not buy your argument.
First off we should never compare ourselves to Utah State and Utah it makes them feel better about their inferiority.
Second I think you are just making excuses for the recent past when it comes to recruiting and admissions. If USU and Utah were Church owned schools, they were have far greater access to LDS recruits than they do now. We get top LDS recruits because we are a church school so if you want to bring USU and Utah on to par with BYU on academics then don't you have to do the same on the other aspects? Otherwise the argument it ridiculous and nonsensical.