This will happen eventually. The AQ conferences tried to appease the non-AQ conferences by making it easier for them to take part when they added the extra game. I just don't think that anyone expected those teams to get to the point of actually being in the NC picture. This is probably more of a result in the changing on non-conference scheduling than anything. Now that teams like to schedule easy wins (see tOSU), no one wants to play these good non-AQ schools in the non-conference. As a result, they are mounting up undefeated seasons which leads to better recruiting and a further gap between them and the rest of their conference. Now that conferences are going to nine game conference schedules it will get even worse. There isn't anyone that knocks them down.
I don't know what the solution should be though. If teams that very well might be good enough to be national champs can't get games with anyone that's worth a damn, how do they prove it? Watching BSU and TCU this season, they may have been good enough to play with most anyone in the country this year, but until there is a playoff system they won't be able to prove it.
But, Delaney should be careful. If Wisconsin can't handle TCU then his comments might be used against him. It may not prove that they could play an entire season schedule, but it would show that these teams aren't that far behind anymore.