The 1996 NCAA Division I-AA football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division I-AA level, began in August 1996, and concluded with the 1996 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game on December 21, 1996, at Marshall University Stadium in Huntington, West Virginia. The Marshall Thundering Herd won their second I-AA championship, defeating the defending national champion Montana Grizzlies by a score of 49–29.
Conference changes and new programs The American West Conference disbanded following the 1995 season and its four remaining members either became independents (Cal Poly, Sacramento State, and Southern Utah) or joined the Big Sky (Cal State Northridge). Prior to the season, the Northeast Conference, a preexisting Division I conference, announced it would add football for its five members that sponsored the sport.
School 1995 Conference 1996 Conference Boise State Big Sky Big West (I-A) Cal State Northridge American West Big Sky Cal Poly American West I-AA Independent Central Connecticut State I-AA Independent Northeast Central Florida I-AA Independent I-A Independent Eastern Illinois Gateway Ohio Valley Fairfield New Program MAAC Idaho Big Sky Big West (I-A) Monmouth I-AA Independent Northeast Morehead State Ohio Valley I-AA Independent Portland State D-II Independent Big Sky (I-AA) Robert Morris I-AA Independent Northeast Sacramento State American West Big Sky St. Francis (PA) I-AA Independent Northeast Southern Utah American West I-AA Independent Troy State I-AA Independent Southland UAB I-AA Independent I-A Independent Wagner I-AA Independent Northeast
Conference standings
Conference champions
Conference ChampionsBig Sky Conference – Montana Gateway Football Conference – Northern Iowa Ivy League – Dartmouth Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference – Duquesne Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Florida A&M Northeast Conference – Monmouth and Robert Morris Ohio Valley Conference – Murray State Patriot League – Bucknell Pioneer Football League – Dayton Southern Conference – Marshall Southland Football League – Troy State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Jackson State Yankee Conference – William & Mary
Postseason The location of the title game, Marshall University Stadium, was determined before the playoffs started.
NCAA Division I-AA playoff bracket
* Denotes host institution
Source:
References