Just to be fair, I think you're combining stats for two different posters ... one was top 12%, but the one with the 1460 was outside the top 25%. That changes the narrative dramatically. Even with a 1460 SAT, if you're in the second quartile, you've got an uphill battle to get full admission. And the top 12% is simply considered top quartile, but we don't know her test scores.
Yes, I would agree that top 12% with a 1460 would be shocking not to get full admission.
Unfortunately, I've got a HS senior that has been going through this admission process this year, and so I know way more than I care to know about criteria, stats and other details. The reality is that TAMU is receiving more applications from qualified kids than it can offer enrollment to, so programs like Blinn TEAM give these "bubble" kids a clear pathway to main campus if they choose to go that route. It's a fantastic offer - when you can live on campus and enjoy most of the privileges of a full admission student, while knocking out some difficult core courses in smaller classrooms, it's not like going to JUCO and transferring in.
When I went to TAMU, I can't recall anyone that applied and didn't get in that surprised me - but now I'm floored by the caliber of kid in my daughter's school that is getting denied. It's just a different time and Texas is pumping out more quality high school graduates every year than TAMU and tu can accommodate.
What Texas really needs is a third large state institution to evolve into a legit third option for these outstanding students to seriously consider. That hasn't happened yet, and so schools like OU, OSU, Arkansas, Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, LSU, etc., are enrolling tons of Texas kids who don't see a legit third option in our state.