The 1996 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. They played their home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana and competed in the Big Ten Conference. The team attempted to build from its second best season (win wise) in its 5-year football history under head coach Jim Colletto, and they failed starting the season 0-3 and averaging under 7 points per game. Over the final eight games the Boilermakers went 3-5 however, ending the season with a 3–8 record and failing to qualify for a bowl game for the twelfth straight year. The Boilermakers also failed to win a road game.