I see a ton of bark but no bite.
The Big 10 keeps "saying" they've examined leaving as does the SEC but the appeal of being labeled "NCAA" sport attracts people and gives it an overall official feeling.
Those conferences know they really would risk losing a huge foothold in their established position with the NCAA if they left. The NCAA would feel betrayed for having covered their backs for so long and if somehow it didn't work out and said conference returned to the NCAA, they'd be hammered with violations for having left (it'd be reported as some legit violation but subliminally its a giant middle finger to the schools and conference who leaves).
Plus...wouldn't the NCAA enforce a rule saying if you played a school from a "Rogue" conference, the game won't count and possible violations could be issued to the school who plays?
Considering how biased schools are already, just wait until they try governing themselves without an independent 3rd party to help oversee everything...the schools within the conference will turn on each other!
I also think, if athletes are paid...they should pay full tuition like everyone else...just to see if a football player is willing to support a struggling women's soccer team.
Again, read my lengthy post...this idea of paying athletes is one of the worst ideas ever!