1996 Southwest Missouri State Bears football team

The 1996 Southwest Missouri State Bears football team represented Southwest Missouri State University (now known as Missouri State University) as a member of the Gateway Football Conference (GFC) during the 1996 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by second-year head coach Del Miller, the Bears compiled an overall record of 7–4, with a mark of 3–2 in conference play, and finished tied for second in the GFC.