Following a victory in the annual Iron Bowl on November 23, head coach Gene Stallings announced his retirement, which would go into effect at the end of the season.
Alabama would hold Southern Miss to 104 yards of offense to win for the sixth straight year over the Golden Eagles.
In the first home game at Bryant-Denny Stadium for 1996, a shootout would unfold as the Crimson Tide would use a 21 point 3rd quarter to beat the Commodores.
The Crimson tide offense went through one man Redshirt Freshman Shaun Alexander rushed for a School record 291 yards and all four Alabama touchdowns.
Jon Brock extra point would give Alabama the one-point lead and eventual win to clinch the SEC West.