...ND football & Michigan football are, in & of themselves, huge, profitable corporations. "Easily recognized brand names that sell" as they would say on Wall Street.
In today's college football culture, huge, profitable corporations/football programs will always receive the most media attention, no matter their records.
That's why the NCAA will never punish Auburn for Cam Newton: Cam Newton was a one man corporate billboard that made Auburn, the SEC, the NCAA, merchandising firms & several TV networks billions of dollars.
Somebody that "special" will be protected at all costs.