They have as many or more national merit scholars as any school in America. Why ? They buy them. They buy on other high stat kids.
No one used the word better. Better depends on the kid. US News is not the barometer except selling magazine. For my son, Bama was better than Purdue. For others, name your tiny, never heard of school, may be better.
Given your GPA and rank, you’re likely to choose amongst your safeties minus Clemson.
Which of the three would you choose ?
Pedigree wise they are indistinguishable.
But you will find at any campus - from Bama to ASU to U of SC, kids that turned down Ivy and other high level schools.
My daughter also chose a safety over other high level schools (fit) and her bff at Charleston turned down Rice, Vandy, and Penn.
Everything isn’t as ‘rank’ this as you think.