| Year: | 1996 |
| Number Of Teams: | 117 |
| Regular Season: | August–November |
| Playoffs: | November 30–December 21 |
| Nc Date: | December 21, 1996 |
| Championship: | Marshall University Stadium Huntington, West Virginia |
| Champions: | Marshall |
| Payton: | Archie Amerson (RB, Northern Arizona) |
| Buchanan: | Dexter Coakley (LB, Appalachian State) |
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 score of 49–29.[1]
| School | 1995 Conference | 1996 Conference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big West (I-A) | |||
| Big Sky | |||
| I-AA Independent | |||
| Northeast | |||
| I-A Independent | |||
| Ohio Valley | |||
| New Program | MAAC | ||
| Big West (I-A) | |||
| I-AA Independent | |||
| I-AA Independent | |||
| Big Sky (I-AA) | |||
| Big Sky | |||
| Northeast | |||
| I-AA Independent | |||
| I-A Independent | |||
| Northeast |
See also: List of NCAA Division I-AA/FCS football seasons.
The location of the title game, Marshall University Stadium, was determined before the playoffs started.[2]
* Denotes host institution
Source:[3]