I don't think BSU is one of the top 12 teams, but absent more crossover in non-conference games with some of these SEC teams actually playing someone outside of their conference, it's not as easy as you say just playing the hypothetical game. Alabama did NOT look like one of the best 12 teams in several of their games this year, so picking a single game and saying "Well, that proves my point" while ignoring Alabama's crappy games is kind of silly.

Also, I don't feel bad for them at all, but that's a different matter.