1996 Jackson State Tigers football team

The 1996 Jackson State Tigers football team represented Jackson State University as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 1996 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 5th-year head coach James Carson, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 10–2 and a mark of 6–1 in conference play, and finished as SWAC co-champion. Jackson State finished their season with a loss against William & Mary in the Division I-AA playoffs. At the conclusion of the season, the Tigers were also recognized as black college national champion.

1996 Jackson State Tigers football
Black college national champion SWAC champion
NCAA Division I-AA First Round, L 6–45 vs. William & Mary
Conference	Southwestern Athletic Conference
Ranking
Sports Network	No. T–8
Record	10–2 (6–1 SWAC)
Head coach	James Carson (5th season)
Home stadium	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
Seasons ← 1995 1997 →

1996 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. T–8 Jackson State $^		6	–	1					10	–	2
Southern		5	–	2					7	–	5
Mississippi Valley State		5	–	2					7	–	4
Texas Southern		5	–	2					7	–	4
Alcorn State		3	–	4					4	–	7
Grambling State		2	–	5					3	–	8
Alabama State		2	–	5					3	–	8
Prairie View A&M		0	–	7					0	–	11
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from The Sports Network Poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 1	vs. Alabama State	No. 15	Legion Field Birmingham, AL (Labor Day Classic)	W 40–0	47,359	[1]
September 14	vs. Tennessee State*	No. 10	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN (Southern Heritage Classic)	W 21–14	55,212	[2]
September 21	No. 22 Florida A&M*	No. 6	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS	W 16–9	38,500	[3]
September 28	Mississippi Valley State	No. 6	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS	W 39–13	16,687	[4]
October 5	Texas Southern	No. 6	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS	W 31–14	38,005	[5]
October 19	at Southern	No. 4	A. W. Mumford Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)	L 16–27	24,600	[6]
October 26	at Grambling State	No. 11	Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium Grambling, LA	W 52–0	8,042	[7]
November 2	at Arkansas–Pine Bluff	No. 10	War Memorial Stadium Little Rock, AR	W 31–10	21,973	[8]
November 9	Central State (OH)*	No. 8	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS	W 41–14	7,000	[9]
November 16	Prairie View A&M	No. 9	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS	W 76–20	4,020	[10]
November 23	Alcorn State	No. 8	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS (Capital City Classic)	W 27–17	62,512	[11]
November 30	at No. 7 William & Mary*	No. T–8	Zable Stadium Williamsburg, VA (NCAA Division I-AA First Round)	L 6–45	4,057	[12]
*Non-conference game Rankings from The Sports Network Poll released prior to the game