The 1996 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 31st-year head coach Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions compiled an overall record of 11âÂÂ2 with a mark of 6âÂÂ2 in conference play, tying for third place in the Big Ten. Penn State was invited to the Fiesta Bowl, where the Nittany Lions defeated Texas. The team played home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.
Three Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1997 NFL draft.