| Year: | 1996 |
| Team: | Southern Miss Golden Eagles |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Conference USA |
| Short Conf: | C-USA |
| Record: | 8–3 |
| Conf Record: | 4–1 |
| Head Coach: | Jeff Bower |
| Hc Year: | 7th |
| Off Coach: | Norman Joseph |
| Oc Year: | 3rd |
| Off Scheme: | Multiple |
| Def Coach: | John Thompson |
| Dc Year: | 5th |
| Def Scheme: | Multiple |
| Stadium: | M. M. Roberts Stadium |
| Champion: | Conference USA co-champion |
The 1996 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team represented the University of Southern Mississippi in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Golden Eagles were led by seventh-year head coach Jeff Bower and played their home games at M. M. Roberts Stadium. In the inaugural season of Conference USA, Southern Miss claimed a share of the conference championship with Houston after finishing 4–1 in conference, and 8–3 overall.[1]
See also: 1996 NCAA Division I-A football rankings.