The longer this drags out, the harder it gets to wrap your head around the possible alternatives that are in play. And I'm definitely leaning more towards the possibility that this was all just a ruse to try to pressure the networks into ponying up to prevent bad additions.
My rational side gets to the same conclusion. Your A.D. has made the case for why the old Big 8 schools are not going to favor adding another SWC team without GOR extension. And frankly, I'd trust his words over those of an SI sports scribe.