@BostonTech77 I agree with your assessment of B1G schools being a cut above because of them being in the AAU, only Nebraska is not.
Looking at UA direction, my thinking is that the built up their undergrad first and now are going to embark on building their grad program. Looking at the leadership they had/have, Dr. Witt and now Dr. Bell , it is obvious what the intentions are. It will take a while to get to the level of schools in AAU but it would not surprise me if entry if the goal. Bell, having been in TAMU graduate program and Dean of Engineering at the University of Kansas is very familiar with what is required for entry into AAU.
Bell is definitely heading in that direction:
I truly believe being part of AAU put a school in elite company. That is why B1G is the premier educational conference.