| Year: | 1996 |
| Team: | North Carolina Tar Heels |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Atlantic Coast Conference |
| Short Conf: | ACC |
| Coachrank: | 10 |
| Aprank: | 10 |
| Record: | 10–2 |
| Conf Record: | 6–2 |
| Head Coach: | Mack Brown |
| Hc Year: | 9th |
| Off Coach: | Greg Davis |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Def Coach: | Carl Torbush |
| Dc Year: | 9th |
| Captain: | Greg Ellis, James Hamilton, Leon Johnson, Freddie Jones, Chris Keldorf, Jeff Saturday, Brian Simmons, Rick Terry |
| Stadium: | Kenan Memorial Stadium |
| Champion: | Gator Bowl champion |
| Bowl: | Gator Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 20–13 vs. West Virginia |
The 1996 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill during the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Tar Heels played their home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The team was led by head coach Mack Brown.
See also: 1996 NCAA Division I-A football rankings.