| Big 8 Conference | |
| Founded: | 1928 |
| Conference: | Missouri State High School Activities Association |
| Division: | East and West |
| Teams: | 9 |
| Region: | Missouri Ozarks |
| Formerly: | Big 10, Big 9, Big 13 |
| Headquarters: | N/A, N/A |
| Commissioner: | N/A |
The Big Eight Conference is an athletic conference comprising medium-size high schools located in the Ozarks of southwest Missouri. The conference members are based around the Joplin and Springfield areas and are located in the counties of Barry, Barton, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, and Vernon.
| School | Team Name | Colors | Town | County | School Enrollment (2019) | Primary MSHSAA class* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cassville | Wildcats / LadyCats | Cassville | Barry | 570 | 3 | |
| East Newton | Patriots | Granby | Newton | 415 | 2 | |
| Lamar | Tigers | Lamar | Barton | 398 | 2 | |
| McDonald County | Mustangs | Anderson | McDonald | 1119 | 4 | |
| Monett | Cubs | Monett | Barry | 772 | 4 | |
| Nevada | Tigers/Lady Tigers | Nevada | Vernon | 720 | 3 | |
| Seneca | Indians | Seneca | Newton | 449 | 3 | |
| Aurora | Houn' Dawgs/ Lady Houns | Aurora | Lawrence | 567 | 3 | |
| Mt. Vernon | Mountaineers | Mt. Vernon | Lawrence | 471 | 3 | |
The conference was established as the Southwest Activities Association but was known as the Big 10. Founding members were: Aurora, Carthage, Joplin, Lamar, Monett, Mt. Vernon, Neosho, Nevada, Springfield and Webb City.
The Big 10 changed to the Big 9 when Springfield and Joplin left the conference and Cassville was added.
The Big 10 was re-established when Carl Junction was added.
The Big 10 added McDonald County, East Newton, and Seneca to form the Big 13 Conference.
Webb City leaves the conference for two years thus causing the renaming to the Big 12 Conference.
Webb City is reinstated into the conference. The conference is renamed the Big 13 Conference with schools divided into two divisions.
Joplin (Memorial) lured Neosho, Webb City, Carthage, McDonald County, and Nevada to form the Big 6 Conference. The remaining schools formed the Big 8 Conference (Aurora, Carl Junction, Cassville, East Newton, Lamar, Monett, Mt. Vernon, and Seneca).
In 1985, Joplin Memorial merges with Joplin Parkwood to form Joplin High School and thus, the Big 6 Conference is renamed the Southwest Conference. Teams are: Joplin, Carthage, McDonald County, Neosho, Nevada, and Webb City.
The Big 8 Conference voted to add McDonald County as its ninth member effective in July 2013.
Carl Junction Leaves Big 8 Conference for the Central Ozarks Conference (Large).
The Central Ozark Conference Small Division merged with the Big 8. Joining schools are: Logan-Rogersville, Springfield Catholic, Reeds Spring, Hollister, Marshfield and Nevada.
The Big 8 Conference was shaped into an East and West conference division.[1]
The West Division includes: McDonald County, Monett, Nevada, Cassville, East Newton, Seneca, and Lamar
The East Division includes: Marshfield, Logan-Rogersville, Aurora, Reeds Spring, Springfield Catholic, Hollister, and Mt. Vernon.
The Big 8 Conference members Logan-Rogersville, Springfield Catholic, Reeds Spring, Hollister, and Marshfield leave the conference to create the new Ozark Mountains Conference and/or join other conferences.
The conference is left with 9 teams with no plans to expand in the foreseeable future.