I don't think OU really has any need to...errr... "bend the rules"... as much as they have in the past. Good coaching and a lot of stability will work wonders for you.
But you might be right the pressure to "compete" in the SEC might have been too much to resist for a few boosters.
And I totally agree the conference is in a holding pattern, I'm just not sure there will be any pressures to make a change when the current contracts are up. Let's be honest, if we're talking about teams leaving the B12, the only two that would have options, would be OU and Texas. And financially there isn't, and won't be, some huge gap between other conference payouts, and what Texas and OU are making. All B12 members are currently making more money than anyone in the ACC or PAC. And that's not even counting whatever they might have negotiated for their Tier3 rights.
So then, what's the advantage to leaving, if it's not money? OU has had plenty of fortune in getting to the CFP in the B12. Although I don't necessarily agree, most folks would argue that OU's path the CFP in either the B1G or SEC would be much more difficult. And of course the travel/scheduling would be many times more difficult, especially for the Olympic sports. The logistical disadvantages to going to a more distant, more far-flung conference, are sizable.
Now that the dust has settled, and everyone has stopped panicking, and the "animal spirits" have subsided, I think Texas and OU are likely to have a much deeper understanding of the advantages of their current conference affiliation.
And yes, there are plenty of fans at both schools that dream of the sexy matchups agaist Alabama and LSU or Michigan and Ohio State or even USC and... well... really just USC in the PAC. Personally, I can't say I hate the idea of Oklahoma and Texas going to the SEC West, and the Horns being reunited with traditional rivals Arkansas and Texas A&M, whilst still getting to play OU as a conference game. But in reality that would also likely end up pushing Alabama and Auburn to the SEC East, so LSU would be the only real interesting new "SEC" team added to our schedule, and we'd just be trading out Iowa State and Kansas State for Ole Miss and Miss State.
But the administrators at these large universities aren't looking at it that way, anyway. They're looking at the top line revenue first and foremost, then they're looking at the bottom line profits (which would diminish if travel/logistical expenses increased), and since it's football-driven, they're looking at ability to make the CFP. And without some REALLY large financial incentive to change conferences, the impetus for a switch really doesn't seem to be there.
Just my own speculation of course.