Defining "not-too-far behind"

We don't put much stock in news media rankings of universities and schools.  However, a recent item in the LA Business Journal raises some interesting issues about what the phrase "not-too-far behind" might mean:

Three local business schools made Bloomberg Businessweek’s 2014 ranking of MBA programs, now in its 14th year. 

UCLA’s Anderson School of Management made No. 10, rising one spot on the list. USC’s Marshall School of Business trailed not-too-far behind, rising seven spots to No. 21...

Full story at http://labusinessjournal.com/news/2014/nov/11/ucla-beats-usc-business-school-rankings/ 

(The third school mentioned in the excerpt above was Pepperdine which is at no. 63.  We suppose by some definition, that rank, too, is not far behind.)