Big North Conference (Michigan)
The Big North Conference (BNC) is a high school conference based in northern Michigan, and is affiliated with the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA). Created in 1997 after the split of Traverse City High School into Central and West High School. It combined the eight largest schools in Northern Michigan. In 2004, due to decreasing enrollment Cheboygan and Sault Area left the conference. They were replaced in 2011 with West Branch Ogemaw Heights, but they left the conference after the 2015-16 school year due to decreasing enrollment as well. In 2021, the league announced  the departure of Traverse City Central and Traverse City West high schools' football programs, and those schools becoming associate members of the Saginaw Valley League. However, other sports offered by those schools will continue to participate in the Big North Conference. Football champions. From 1997 to 1999 the Big North had a A division and a B division. Since 2000, the conference has operated with one division.