Conference Realignment: Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe Out, What Happens Next?

After yesterday’s report that Oklahoma would only return to the Big 12 if the conference parted ways with commissioner Dan Beebe, it sounds like the Sooners got a quick answer to their demand.

On Wednesday night, the Kansas City Star reported that Beebe and the Big 12 are working out the terms of his resignation.

Beebe’s departure comes just a day after the Big 12 was saved for the second straight year, with the news that the Pac-12 would not expand and yank Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech.

The Big 12 has been wavering on shaky ground since last summer when both Nebraska and Colorado got the expansion train rolling by heading for new conference homes, and the loss of those four schools would have all but certainly destroyed the conference once and for all.

While Beebe, who started his tenure as Big 12 commissioner back in 2007, managed to secure a very lucrative television deal with Fox last year once the dust settled, he has been blamed for losing Texas A&M and criticized for his handling of the Longhorn Network.

Once the Oklahoma folks started squalling, you knew he was in trouble.

The leader to replace Beebe is reportedly Chuck Neinas, the former commissioner of the Big Eight Conference, but there are most likely a few other candidates to consider as well.

It’s clear that whoever ends up inheriting the job will have his work cut out for his.

The new Big 12 commissioner will be taking over a conference that has seen its fair share of turmoil over the past year.

There will be just nine schools remaining after Texas A&M makes the move to the SEC, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see Missouri make the jump with the Aggies.

It's imperative that the conference look into inviting and adding schools as soon as possible.

Air Force, BYU and assorted Big East teams have all been in the discussion.

As long as Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas are all committed to the future of the conference, the Big 12 has the resources to thrive in the future.

The only fear is that if the whole conference realignment wave washes back ashore next year, it would seem unlikely that the Big 12 would be able to survive a third straight big blow.

Right now, though, the Big 12 is still breathing, and if the new commissioner can come in and add a few notable schools and smooth over the Longhorn Network issue, he will be applauded. However, if he fails to get those issues taken care of, the Big 12’s foundation will start to crack once again.