The 1996 Fresno State Bulldogs football team represented California State University, Fresno as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by Jim Sweeney in his 19th and final season as head coach, Fresno State compiled an overall record of 4–7 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, tying for fifth place in the WAC's Pacific Division. The Bulldogs played their home games at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, California.