| Year: | 1996 |
| Regular Season: | August–November 1996 |
| Playoffs: | November–December 1996 |
| Championship: | Jim Carroll Stadium Savannah, Tennessee |
| Champions: | Sioux Falls |
The 1996 NAIA Division II football season, as part of the 1996 college football season in the United States and the 41st season of college football sponsored by the NAIA, was the 27th (and final) season of play of the NAIA division II for football.
The season was played from August to November 1996 and culminated in the 1996 NAIA Division II Football National Championship, played at Jim Carroll Stadium in Savannah, Tennessee.[1]
Sioux Falls defeated in the championship game, 47–25, to win their first NAIA national title.
| Team | 1995 conference | 1996 conference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia (Mount Hood) | Northwest | ||
| Columbia (Mount Hood) | Northwest | ||
| Columbia (Mount Hood) | Northwest | ||
| Columbia (Mount Hood) | Northwest | ||
| Columbia (Mount Hood) | Northwest | ||
| Columbia (Mount Hood) | Northwest |
| Conference | Champion | Record | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | Western Washington | 4–1 | |
| Heart of America | Evangel | 9–0 | |
| Kansas | Bethany | 8–0 | |
| Mid-South | Lambuth | 7–0 | |
| Mid-States | Mideast Division: Geneva, Malone, and Westminster (PA) Midwest Division: Findlay | 5–1 6–0 | |
| Nebraska-Iowa | Northwestern (IA) | 5–1 | |
| North Dakota | Valley City State Mary | 5–1 | |
| Northwest | Willamette | 5–0 | |
| South Dakota-Iowa | Sioux Falls | 6–0 |
| 1996 Division II NAIA Football Championship | |
| Visitor Total: | 25 |
| Home Total: | 47 |
| Visitor Quarter1: | 15 |
| Visitor Quarter2: | 0 |
| Visitor Quarter3: | 10 |
| Visitor Quarter4: | 0 |
| Home Quarter1: | 17 |
| Home Quarter2: | 10 |
| Home Quarter3: | 10 |
| Home Quarter4: | 10 |
| Date: | December 21, 1996 |
| Stadium: | Jim Carroll Stadium |
| City: | Savannah, Tennessee |
| Moop: | Kurtis Riggs, Sioux Falls |
| Modp: | Travis Dumke, Sioux Falls |
| Series: | NAIA Football National Championship |
| Prev Year: | 1995 |
| Next Year: | 1997 |
The 1996 NAIA Division II Football Championship Series concluded on December 21, 1996, with the championship game played at Jim Carroll Stadium in Savannah, Tennessee. The game was won by the Sioux Falls Cougars over the Western Washington Vikings by a score of 47–25.[3]