1996 NCAA Division III football season
The 1996 NCAA Division III football season, part of the college football season organized by the NCAA at the Division III level in the United States, began in August 1996, and concluded with the NCAA Division III Football Championship, also known as the Stagg Bowl, in December 1996 at Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia. The Mount Union Purple Raiders won their second Division III championship by defeating the Rowan Profs, 56−24. The Gagliardi Trophy, given to the most outstanding player in Division III football, was awarded to Lon Erickson, quarterback from Illinois Wesleyan.Conference and program changes
Conference changes
| School | 1995 Conference | 1996 Conference |
| Austin College | TIAA | American Southwest |
| Hardin–Simmons | TIAA | American Southwest |
| Howard Payne | TIAA | American Southwest |
| McMurry | TIAA | American Southwest |
| Mississippi College | Independent | American Southwest |
| Sul Ross State | TIAA | American Southwest |
| Thomas More | AMC | Independent |
Program changes
Conference champions
Postseason
The 1996 NCAA Division III Football Championship playoffs were the 24th annual single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division III college football. The championship Stagg Bowl game was held at Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia for the second time. As of 2014, Salem has remained the yearly host of the Stagg Bowl. Like the previous eleven tournaments, this year's bracket featured sixteen teams.Playoff bracket
