1996 Kansas State Wildcats football team

1996 Kansas State Wildcats football
Cotton Bowl Classic, L 15–19 vs. BYU
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
DivisionNorth Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 17
APNo. 17
Record9–3 (6–2 Big 12)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDana Dimel (2nd season)
Offensive schemePro-style
Co-defensive coordinators
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumKSU Stadium
1996 Big 12 Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
North Division
No. 6 Nebraska x%  8 0   11 2  
No. 8 Colorado  7 1   10 2  
No. 17 Kansas State  6 2   9 3  
Missouri  3 5   5 6  
Kansas  2 6   4 7  
Iowa State  1 7   2 9  
South Division
No. 23 Texas x$  6 2   8 5  
Texas Tech  5 3   7 5  
Texas A&M  4 4   6 6  
Oklahoma  3 5   3 8  
Oklahoma State  2 6   5 6  
Baylor  1 7   4 7  
Championship: Texas 37, Nebraska 27
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • $ – Bowl Alliance representative as champion
    % – Bowl Alliance at-large representative
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1996 Kansas State Wildcats football team represented Kansas State University as a member of the North Division of the newly-formed Big 12 Conference during the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by eighth-year head coach Bill Snyder, the Wildcats compiled an overall record of 9–3 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, placing third in the Big 12's North Division. Kansas's State season ended with a loss against fifth-ranked BYU in the Cotton Bowl Classic—the program's first appearance in a traditional New Year's Day bowl game. The team played home games at KSU Stadium in Manhattan, Kansas.

1996 was the first year of competition for the Big 12 Conference, and Kansas State's season opener against Texas Tech on August 31 was the first athletic event in Big 12 history.