I'm not here to bash SEC. Forced integration did not just happen to the SEC, it happened to all conferences. SEC's low standard of academic standards isn't a function of race, but as a function of economics and competition.
On economics, look at the poorest states in the country. They fall mainly in SEC country. They are Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, Bama, Arkansas and Mississippi (WV, Oklahoma and Montana is not SEC). Factor in competition. These schools aren't exactly top of the line Ivy Leagues who compete for students at an international level with sub 20% acceptance rates. In fact, schools like LSU will let most anybody in with a 73% acceptance rate, no offense LSU fans, just stating facts. Vanderbilt has the lowest acceptance rate but it's a private school, and has not been an SEC football powerhouse for the last couple years (decades?). UF, like the other 2 Florida schools, has decent acceptance rates but it's because people love to go to schools with sun, bikinis and not necessarily for academics.
Take the schools with the highest academic standards. Who are they? They are Northwestern, BC, Stanford, Duke, UVA, UNC, etc. These schools typically have low acceptance rates (sub 40%) and their academic standards for athletes reflect that. That's why these schools often don't become national champs in the modern era. Look at the economics of these schools. They are often private (Standford, NW, ND), in communities/states with high income per capita (VA, Triangle) or government service (Westpoint, Annapolis, AFA - acceptence rate sub 10%).
I think, with few exceptions, schools with low academic standards begets athletes with low academic standards. The converse is, generally, true.