LOL Yeah that article made up the conference's as regional partners, but clearly he was throwing in names in a hat at times. As hard as it is, can't pay attention to what the "media" says or doesn't say about certain institutions. They don't make the calls. They also may be biased about pointing someone out or leaving someone else out.
The presidents, commissioners and AD's make the decision. And in theory, they know whom the best candidates are. Heck the best candidates may be the ones not tooting their own horn because they don't feel they have to.