I suppose it’s a bit much to characterize schools like Ohio State, Penn State, Pitt, and Michigan State as “elite,” especially in a University of Michigan forum, but notice those schools also take a huge upward leap in the ARWU alternative rankings once the “award factor” is eliminated: Penn State +24 from #60 to #36; Ohio State +26 from #67 to #41; Pitt +27 from #70 to #43; and Michigan State +24 from #99 to #75. Global rankings of #36 to #75 are actually quite impressive given how many universities are out there, though perhaps not quite “elite.”