The conference included small public high schools with enrollments between 75-600 students in Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties.

In 1987, the conference began talks with the Upstate Illini to create a league that would be divided into divisions with equal numbers for all sports, including football.

In 1988, North Boone, South Beloit, Warren and River Ridge joined the conference while Rockford Lutheran rejoined.

The league eventually rose to 12 teams and due to the increased number, talks for a re-branding of the Northwest 8 took place in 1987.

In 1988, the idea of moving back to the Upstate Illini provided an opportunity to eliminate a conference name that included a number, and competition for all sports, with the exception of football, was established.