The 1996 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama for the 1996–97 college football season, competing in the Western Division in the Southeastern Conference. Gene Stallings led the Crimson Tide to a 10–3 record in his final year with the program. The team played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.

Alabama's loss to Mississippi State broke a 15-game winning streak Alabama had in the series and was their first loss to the Bulldogs since a dramatic upset MSU posted over the #1 ranked Tide in 1980.

Following a victory in the annual Iron Bowl on November 23, head coach Gene Stallings announced his retirement, which would go into effect at the end of the season.^[1]

More information Date, Time ...

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
August 31	2:00 p.m.	Bowling Green*	No. 13	Legion Field Birmingham, AL	PPV	W 21–7	76,878	[2]
September 7	11:30 a.m.	Southern Miss*	No. 14	Legion Field Birmingham, AL (rivalry)	JPS	W 20–10	82,338	[3]
September 14	5:00 p.m.	Vanderbilt	No. 13	Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	ESPN2	W 36–26	70,123	[4]
September 21	11:30 a.m.	at Arkansas	No. 13	War Memorial Stadium Little Rock, AR	JPS	W 17–7	54,827	[5]
October 5	1:00 p.m.	Kentucky	No. 13	Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL	PPV	W 35–7	70,123	[6]
October 12	2:30 p.m.	at NC State*	No. 8	Carter–Finley Stadium Raleigh, NC	ABC	W 24–19	50,750	[7]
October 19	5:00 p.m.	Ole Miss	No. 7	Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)	ESPN2	W 37–0	70,123	[8]
October 26	2:30 p.m.	at No. 6 Tennessee	No. 7	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN (Third Saturday in October)	CBS	L 13–20	106,700	[9]
November 9	6:30 p.m.	at No. 11 LSU	No. 10	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry, College GameDay)	ESPN	W 26–0	80,290	[10]
November 16	8:00 p.m.	at Mississippi State	No. 8	Scott Field Starkville, MS (rivalry)	ESPN	L 16–17	40,050	[11]
November 23	6:30 p.m.	Auburn	No. 15	Legion Field Birmingham, AL (Iron Bowl, College GameDay)	ESPN	W 24–23	83,091	[12]
December 7	8:00 p.m.	vs. No. 4 Florida	No. 11	Georgia Dome Atlanta, GA (SEC Championship Game, rivalry)	ABC	L 30–45	74,132	[13]
January 1, 1997	10:00 a.m.	vs. No. 15 Michigan*	No. 16	Houlihan's Stadium Tampa, FL (Outback Bowl)	ESPN	W 17–14	53,161	[14]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

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