Three practical options:
1. Fred leaks this because he does want out and wants to garner support for a return.
2. Pollard leaks this out so he can tell people he tried but Nebraska’s buyout was too stiff to overcome.
3. It’s all bull ****.
I’d go #3 in a landslide followed but #1 with #2 a distant third.
it’s all very interesting, isn’t it?
I think number 3 is mostly likely with the caveat that there’s enough smoke that it wasn’t all out of thin air.
I think number 1 is possible but not for the reason you said. I think it’s Hoiberg people leaking this.
number 2 is least likely.