Report: Big 12 to replace commissioner

Published Sep. 21, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Big 12 is set to replace commissioner Dan Beebe with former Big Eight commissioner Chuck Neinas in the wake of recent instability in the conference, CBS Sports reported Wednesday, citing a source.

Neinas is expected to be named interim commissioner and the move could reportedly be made official as soon as Thursday, when the presidents of the Big 12 will meet to discuss its future.

Neinas served as the assistant executive director of the NCAA from 1961-1971 and was Big Eight commissioner from 1971-1980. He now runs Neinas Sports Services and is a well-known college consultant.

On Tuesday, the Pac-12 released a statement saying it would remain a 12-team conference, ending weeks of speculation as to whether as many as four members of the Big 12 would receive invitations to join the conference.

Two of the driving forces for the expansions talks, Oklahoma and Texas -- as well as Oklahoma State and Texas Tech -- could now be back in the fold for the Big 12, the report said.