Final 1996 Sagarin Football Rankings
| RANK | CONFERENCE | DIVISION | RATING | TEAMS |
| 1 | BIG TEN | A | 81.28 | 11 |
| 2 | PACIFIC-10 | A | 80.01 | 10 |
| 3 | SOUTHEASTERN | A | 78.92 | 12 |
| 4 | BIG 12 | A | 77.76 | 12 |
| 5 | ATLANTIC COAST | A | 73.65 | 9 |
| 6 | BIG EAST | A | 73.53 | 8 |
| 7 | CONFERENCE USA | A | 72.48 | 6 |
| 8 | WESTERN ATHLETIC | A | 66.12 | 16 |
| 9 | I-A INDEPENDENTS | A | 63.81 | 11 |
| 10 | MID-AMERICAN | A | 54.91 | 10 |
| 11 | AA | 54.28 | 9 | |
| 12 | BIG WEST | A | 53.62 | 6 |
| 13 | BIG SKY | AA | 49.99 | 9 |
| 14 | YANKEE | AA | 48.46 | 12 |
| 15 | GATEWAY | AA | 48.05 | 6 |
| 16 | SOUTHLAND | AA | 44.27 | 8 |
| 17 | OHIO VALLEY | AA | 34.56 | 9 |
| 18 | IVY LEAGUE | AA | 32.17 | 8 |
| 19 | I-AA INDEPENDENTS | AA | 31.4 | 14 |
| 20 | MID-EASTERN | AA | 29.47 | 8 |
| 21 | SOUTHWESTERN | AA | 28.8 | 8 |
| 22 | PATRIOT LEAGUE | AA | 27.8 | 6 |
| 23 | PIONEER | AA | 7.81 | 6 |
| 24 | NORTHEAST | AA | -4.06 | 5 |
| 25 | METRO ATLANTIC | AA | -16.65 | 9 |