  I present first results from large-scale lattice investigations of SU(3)
gauge theory with eight light flavors in the fundamental representation. Using
leadership computing resources at Argonne, we are generating gauge
configurations with lattice volumes up to $64^3\times128$ at relatively strong
coupling, in an attempt to access the chiral regime. We use nHYP-improved
staggered fermions, carefully monitoring finite-volume effects and other
systematics. Here I focus on analyses of the light hadron spectrum and chiral
condensate, measured on lattice volumes up to $48^3\times96$ with fermion
masses as light as m=0.004 in lattice units. We find no clear indication of
spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking in these observables. I discuss the
implications of these initial results, and prospects for further physics
projects employing these ensembles of gauge configurations.
