The Marshall Owls could have a new conference home in the fall of 2026 that would look much like their current digs.

Supt. Caleb Petet confirmed to KMMO Sports at Tuesday’s school board meeting that Marshall was in discussions to form a new conference to succeed the North Central Missouri Conference, which will dissolve after the 2025-26 school year. Petet expressed optimism that the talks will materialize into a new league.

Conference affiliation was not brought up at the Feb. 11 board meeting in Marshall. The subject on the agenda for Moberly’s school board meeting Tuesday night, along with a memo from Supt. Cristina Wright to board members about a luncheon that Moberly hosted Jan. 28 to discuss forming a new conference. Wright tells us the conversations have been productive.

According to the memo, Moberly and Marshall were joined at the luncheon by representatives from NCMC schools Kirksville and Mexico, as well as Centralia, Hallsville, and Macon. Centralia and Macon are presently the two largest schools in the Clarence Cannon Conference, while Hallsville is part of the Tri-County Conference. Wright says each school is expected to bring the idea before their school boards over the next month to gauge their interest. She adds she’s hopeful that schools will make a decision soon, as to allow time to establish the new league before it begins competition.