In my classes, we use the old saw, "You don't have to be faster than the fastest lion. You just have to be faster than the slowest antelope." In classes where I allow slower antelopes to hang around, the top students still perform, but the average students pace themselves just ahead of the bad students. When I cut the bad students, the mid-range student performance improves.
Expect this to pick up. Many states are changing their funding formulas for state colleges to "completers" rather than funding based on people attempting classes. This will create significantly more pressure on teachers to pass students.
There's already a lot of pressure in this direction. If a low performer is a "protected class" flunking them can put an instructor in a Dean or Vice President's office explaining themselves. Additionally, sites like Rate My Professor grade instructors, and give advice on which instructor to take. If an instructor has fifteen openings in each of his course sections while other instructors have all their sections filled, they will end up with problems from the administration.
What will happen to the collegiate sports heroes who are dumber than a bag of rocks and cannot learn at the college level?