| Year: | 1996 |
| Team: | Michigan State Spartans |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Big Ten Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big Ten |
| Record: | 6–6 |
| Conf Record: | 5–3 |
| Head Coach: | Nick Saban |
| Hc Year: | 2nd |
| Off Coach: | Gary Tranquill |
| Oc Year: | 2nd |
| Off Scheme: | Pro set |
| Def Coach: | Dean Pees |
| Dc Year: | 2nd |
| Def Scheme: | 4–3 |
| Mvp: | Duane Goulbourne |
| Captain: | Duane Goulbourne, Ike Reese, Chris Smith |
| Stadium: | Spartan Stadium |
| Bowl: | Sun Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | L 0–38 vs. Stanford |
The 1996 Michigan State Spartans football team competed on behalf of Michigan State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Nick Saban, the Spartans compiled an overall record of 6–6 with a mark of 5–3, tying for fifth place in the Big Ten. Michigan State was invited to the Sun Bowl, where they lost to Stanford, 38–0, on December 31. The team played home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.
The following players were selected in the 1997 NFL draft.
| Player | Round | Pick | Position | NFL team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 98 | Wide receiver | Tennessee Oilers | |
| Nigea Carter | 6 | 197 | Wide receiver | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |