| Year: | 1896 |
| Team: | Northwestern Purple |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Western Conference |
| Short Conf: | Western |
| Record: | 6–1–2 |
| Conf Record: | 2–1–1 |
| Head Coach: | Alvin H. Culver |
| Hc Year: | 2nd |
| Captain: | Jesse Van Doozer |
| Stadium: | Northwestern Athletic Field |
The 1896 Northwestern Purple team represented Northwestern University during the 1896 Western Conference football season. In their second year under head coach Alvin H. Culver, and their first as a member of the Western Conference (later known as the Big Ten Conference), the Purple compiled a 6–1–2 record (2–1–1 against conference opponents) and finished in third place in the conference.[1] [2]