But these things aren't what other schools will consider because every school can claim the same thing (successful graduates, Rhodes/Goldwater/Fulbright Scholars, nationally ranked departments, and CEO's of major businesses, etc.).
They don't look at the outliers, they look at the average student and what the USNWR states. Of course a lot of it is biased and not objectively based. But, it is one standard by which they will go by. It is the perception and thus WVU's reality. If it comes down to a choice between two schools, a conference could likely choose the one with better academics. If it does, WVU will be left out.