The 1996 California Golden Bears football team was an American football team that represented the University of California, Berkeley as a member of the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) during the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their first and only year under head coach Steve Mariucci, the Golden Bears compiled an overall record of 6âÂÂ6 record with a mark of 3âÂÂ5 in Pac-10, placing fifth in the Pac-10, and were outscored by opponents 407 to 382. The team played home games at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California.
The team's statistical leaders included Pat Barnes with 3,499 passing yards, Brandon Willis with 701 rushing yards, and Bobby Shaw with 888 receiving yards.