The 1996 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Vandals, led by second-year head coach Chris Tormey, were members of the Big West Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho. Idaho was 6–5 overall and 3–2 in conference play. With the move up to Division I-A this season, Idaho changed its uniforms' shade of gold from yellow to metallic.