North Carolina even went beyond that, creating their own course of “study” for athletes, even their own curriculum, lot of “independent study (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_North_Carolina_academic-athletic_scandal). The slap on the wrist showed the unwillingness of the NCAA to even address the problem back then, too much money involved, and now, the NCAA is totally out of the picture
Question becomes what happen when the school conflicts with the NIL funding alumni over the academic question? If the high priced starting athlete decides he isn’t going to bother with school, why would he, he’s not there for an education, will the school step in with fear of alienating the alumni paying the athlete?