Man, I suddenly feel like an idiot for thinking that there was any doubt what era Starfleet Academy would take place. If it does end up replacing Discovery then it makes a lot of sense for it to continue where it left off.
It's not idiotic, it was mention before Strange New Worlds was being discussed, then all talk of it vanished literally for years, so thinking it was abaddoned was understandable.
And yeah Tilly's season 4 plotline seems to be setting her up to be transferred to Star Fleet Academy series from Discovery, she's the O'Brian of Canada Trek, but not as much suffering.