1996 NCAA Division I-AA football season

American college football season August 2023 December 2025 1996 File:NCAA primary logo 1980.svg 117 August–November November 30–December 21 December 21, 1996 Marshall University StadiumHuntington, West Virginia Marshall Archie Amerson (RB, Northern Arizona) Dexter Coakley (LB, Appalachian State) 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 49–29.1996 NCAA Division I Football Championship http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_champs_records/2012/d1/2012FCSfbchamp.pdf NCAA.org December 29, 2013 15 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 List of NCAA Division I-AA/FCS football seasons 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.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30706600/griz_no_2_in_latest_iaa_poll/ Griz No. 2 in latest I-AA poll Great Falls Tribune Great Falls, Montana 1C November 12, 1996 April 17, 2019 newspapers.com NCAA Division I-AA playoff bracket First RoundNovember 30Campus sites QuarterfinalsDecember 7Campus sites SemifinalsDecember 14Campus sites National Championship Game December 21Marshall University StadiumHuntington, West Virginia Nicholls State 3 16 1 Montana* 48 Villanova 29 11 6 East Tennessee State* 35 Florida A&M 25 13 4 Troy State* 29 Western Illinois 6 12 5 Murray State* 34 Delaware 14 15 2 Marshall* 59 Furman 42 10 7 Northern Arizona* 31 Eastern Illinois 14 14 3 Northern Iowa* 21 Jackson State 6 9 8 William & Mary* 45 Montana* 44 1 6 East Tennessee State 14 Troy State* 31 4 5 Murray State 3 Marshall* 54 2 10 Furman 0 Northern Iowa* 38 3 8 William & Mary 35 Montana* 70 1 4 Troy State 7 Marshall* 31 2 3 Northern Iowa 14 Montana 29 1 2 Marshall 49 * Denotes host institution Source:https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28199058/division_iaa_tournament/ Division I-AA tournament The News Journal Wilmington, Delaware B7 November 25, 1996 February 9, 2019 newspapers.com References