1996 Northwestern State Demons football team

1996 Northwestern State Demons football
Conference	Southland Conference
Record	6–5 (3–3 SLC)
Head coach	Sam Goodwin (14th season)
Offensive coordinator	Steve Mullins (3rd as OC, 7th overall season)
Defensive coordinator	Bradley Dale Peveto (1st season)
Home stadium	Harry Turpin Stadium
Seasons ←  1995 1997  →

1996 Southland Football League standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 5 Troy State $^		5	–	1					12	–	2
No. 19 Nicholls State ^		4	–	2					8	–	4
No. 22 Stephen F. Austin		3	–	3					7	–	4
Northwestern State		3	–	3					6	–	5
Sam Houston State		3	–	3					4	–	7
Southwest Texas State		2	–	4					5	–	6
McNeese State		1	–	5					3	–	8
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 1996 Northwestern State Demons football team was an American football team that represented Northwestern State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 1996 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In their 14th year under head coach Sam Goodwin, the team compiled an overall record of 6–5, with a mark of 3–3 in conference play, and finished tied for third in the Southland.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 7		Southern *		Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA	W 27–10	16,222	[1]
September 21		No. 4 (D-II) Texas A&M–Commerce *		Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA	W 33–7	11,256	[2]
September 28	8:05 p.m.	at Boise State *	No. 22	Bronco Stadium Boise, ID	W 20–16	18,893	[3]
October 5		at Northeast Louisiana *	No. 19	Malone Stadium Monroe, LA (rivalry)	L 10–13		[4]
October 12		at Nicholls State	No. 19	John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA (rivalry)	L 7–19		[5]
October 19		Sam Houston State	No. 22	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA	W 38–21		[6]
October 26		at Youngstown State *	No. 19	Stambaugh Stadium Youngstown, OH	L 14–24		[7]
November 2		at Southwest Texas State		Bobcat Stadium San Marcos, TX	W 49–0		[8]
November 9		No. 5 Troy State	No. 19	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA	L 13–26		[9]
November 16		McNeese State	No. 25	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA (rivalry)	L 3–20	8,100	[10]
November 23		at No. 14 Stephen F. Austin		Homer Bryce Stadium Nacogdoches, TX (rivalry)	W 17–10		[11]
*Non-conference game Rankings from The Sports Network Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

References

1. "Frustrated no more, Demons give Jaguars a whipping". The Shreveport Times. September 8, 1996. Retrieved June 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
2. "Northwestern State tames Lions, 33–7". The Leesville Daily Leader. September 22, 1996. Retrieved June 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
3. "NW Louisiana downs BSU, 20–16". The Times-News. September 29, 1996. Retrieved June 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
4. "Demons lose to NLU in last seconds". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. October 6, 1996. Retrieved June 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
5. "Diel's foot lifts Colonels over Demons". The Daily Advertiser. October 13, 1996. Retrieved June 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
6. "Demons batter Bearkats, 38–21". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. October 20, 1996. Retrieved June 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
7. "NSU falls to Youngstown State". The Leesville Daily Leader. October 27, 1996. Retrieved June 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
8. "Final touchdown a symbol of Demons' thrashing of Bobcats". The Shreveport Times. November 2, 1996. Retrieved June 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
9. "Davis leads Troy State to 26–13 win". The Birmingham News. November 10, 1996. Retrieved June 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
10. "McNeese gallops past NSU". The Shreveport Times. November 17, 1996. Retrieved June 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
11. "Northwestern State knocks off S.F. Austin". The Daily Advertiser. November 24, 1996. Retrieved June 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.