That would certainly change things. I have no knowledge on the matter but you'd think if this whole P5 breaking off from the NCAA thing does happen then who's left to enforce that they go to class?
Being a college athlete has for over 100 years meant they are also an amateur in that sport. I think the implication is there. Yes, there were athlete’s that were ‘paid’, but it wasn’t in the open nor the norm.
If a 30 year old grown man, who never attended the U, is playing on a professional football team that rents out the football facilities in the Athletes Village and rents out TCF for games, and wears maroon uniforms that say "University of Minnesota" on them ..... that will be too much of a farce for most people to swallow.