No one is forcing the student athletes to play college sports and let's not pretend that the college athletes aren't getting anything in return. They are getting their undergrad degree paid for, some will get a free masters degree, will graduate with no student loan debt, get a lot of free clothes and apparel, access to tutors and other academic help that regular students don't get, among other benefits.

Both sides benefit here, and athletics does have positive effects on the educational side of things (increased applications leads to a higher quality student leading to higher test scores, lower acceptance rates, etc.). Football, and to a lesser extent, men's bball, allows other sports to exist as they are the revenue drivers and fund the other sports in the AD.