The 1996 NCAA Division II football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division II level, began on September 7, 1996, and concluded with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 14, 1996, at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, hosted by the University of North Alabama.
The Northern Colorado Bears defeated the Carson–Newman, 23–14, to win their first Division II national title.
[2] The Harlon Hill Trophy was awarded to Jarrett Anderson, running back from Truman.
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Virginia State Eastern Collegiate Football Conference – Salve Regina Gulf South Conference – Valdosta State Lone Star Conference – Texas A&M–Kingsville Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association – Northwest Missouri State and Pittsburg State Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference – Ferris State North Central Conference – Nebraska–Omaha Northern California Athletic Conference‡ – Cal State Chico Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference – Minnesota–Duluth Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference – Bloomsburg (East), Clarion (West) Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference – Chadron State South Atlantic Conference – Carson-Newman and Catawba Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Albany State West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Fairmont State and Glenville State The 1996 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs were the 23rd single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college football.
The championship game was held at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, for the tenth time.