| Sport: | football |
| Year: | 1996 |
| Team: | Stanford Cardinal |
| Conference: | Pacific-10 Conference |
| Short Conf: | Pac-10 |
| Record: | 7–5 |
| Conf Record: | 5–3 |
| Hc Year: | 2nd |
| Oc Year: | 2nd |
| Def Coach: | Bill Harris |
| Dc Year: | 2nd |
| Champion: | Sun Bowl champion |
| Bowl Result: | W 38–0 vs. Michigan State |
The 1996 Stanford Cardinal football team represented Stanford University in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was led by head coach Tyrone Willingham.