1996 Texas Longhorns football team

1996 Texas Longhorns football
Big 12 champion
Big 12 South champion
Fiesta Bowl, L 15–38 vs. Penn State
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
DivisionSouth Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 23
APNo. 23
Record8–5 (6–2 Big 12)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGene Dahlquist (5th season)
Defensive coordinatorGary Darnell (3rd season)
Home stadiumDarrell K Royal–Texas Memorial 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 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas at Austin as a member South Division of the newly-formed Big 12 Conference during the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fifth-year head coach John Mackovic, the Longhorns compiled an overall record of 8–5 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, winning the Big 12's South Division title. Texas advanced to the Big 12 Championship Game, where the Longhorns upset Nebraska to secure the Big 12 Conference title. Texas was invited to the Fiesta Bowl, losing there to Penn State. The team played home games at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.