1996 NCAA Division I-AA football season
The 1996 NCAA Division I-AA football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division I-AA level, began in August 1996, and concluded with the 1996 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game on December 21, 1996, at Marshall University Stadium in Huntington, West Virginia. The Marshall Thundering Herd won their second I-AA championship, defeating the defending national champion Montana Grizzlies by a final score of 49–29.
Conference changes and new programs
- The American West Conference disbanded following the 1995 season and its four remaining members either became independents or joined the Big Sky.
- Prior to the season, the Northeast Conference, a preexisting Division I conference, announced it would add football for its five members that sponsored the sport.
| School | 1995 Conference | 1996 Conference |
| Boise State | Big Sky | Big West |
| Cal State Northridge | American West | Big Sky |
| Cal Poly | American West | I-AA Independent |
| Central Connecticut State | I-AA Independent | Northeast |
| Central Florida | I-AA Independent | I-A Independent |
| Eastern Illinois | Gateway | Ohio Valley |
| Fairfield | New Program | MAAC |
| Idaho | Big Sky | Big West |
| Jacksonville State | D-II Independent | Southland |
| Monmouth | I-AA Independent | Northeast |
| Morehead State | Ohio Valley | I-AA Independent |
| Portland State | D-II Independent | Big Sky |
| Robert Morris | I-AA Independent | Northeast |
| Sacramento State | American West | I-AA Independent |
| St. Francis | I-AA Independent | Northeast |
| Southern Utah | American West | I-AA Independent |
| Troy State | I-AA Independent | Southland |
| UAB | I-AA Independent | I-A Independent |
| Wagner | I-AA Independent | Northeast |
Conference standings
Conference champions
| Conference Champions |
Big Sky Conference – Montana Gateway Football Conference – Northern Iowa Ivy League – Dartmouth Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference – Duquesne Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Florida A&M Northeast Conference – Monmouth and Robert Morris Ohio Valley Conference – Murray State Patriot League – Bucknell Pioneer Football League – Dayton Southern Conference – Marshall Southland Football League – Troy State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Jackson State Yankee Conference – William & Mary |
Postseason
The location of the title game, Marshall University Stadium, was determined before the playoffs started.NCAA Division I-AA Playoff bracket
Source: