I don't mean to get in the way of a good simple conspiracy theory, but shouldn't we also consider the role the other conferences are playing in this? It was the BE, B12 and Pac12 involved in this, with the conferences formerly known as non-BCS AQ tagging along, and for all we know the ACC, BigTen and SEC are trying to marginalize everybody else.
The other possibility is that McMurphy is actually talking to people at other networks and there isn't a market for a seventh bowl. The only way we'll know that this is NOT the case is if NBC/Fox/whoever sign a deal and pony up 25 million. Seriously though, you should email the ESPN ombudsman and maybe they'll get McMurphy to say whether his sources are at ESPN only or if he actually has sources outside Disney (he did used to work at CBS).
EDIT - so so now he's
reporting the little five will have guaranteed access within the existing six games. Will be interesting to see if this pans out.