Date Time Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance Source August 31 6:00 p.m. at Oklahoma State * L 20–23 OT 33,500 [ 1]
September 7 at No. 3 McNeese State * No. 21 W 12–714,059 [ 2]
September 14 Truman State * No. 14 W 44–1315,097 [ 3]
September 21 at Tennessee–Martin * No. 10 W 39–7[ 4]
September 28 7:00 p.m. Jacksonville State * No. 8 Plaster Sports Complex Springfield, MO W 34–913,061 [ 5]
October 5 Southern Illinois No. 7 Plaster Sports Complex Springfield, MO W 24–1714,906 [ 6]
October 19 at No. 3 Northern Iowa No. 5 L 31–3814,727 [ 7]
October 26 at Illinois State No. 9 W 24–139,552 [ 8]
November 2 No. 13 Western Illinois No. 7 Plaster Sports Complex Springfield, MO L 17–2315,878 [ 9]
November 9 No. 23 Youngstown State * No. 14 Plaster Sports Complex Springfield, MO L 13–176,963 [ 10]
November 16 at Indiana State No. 20 W 27–12[ 11]
[ 12]
^ "Cardiac Cowboys escape Bears" . The Daily Oklahoman . September 1, 1996. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "SMS scraps past McNeese" . The Springfield News-Leader . September 8, 1996. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Explosive SMS offense rolls over Truman State" . The Springfield News-Leader . September 15, 1996. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Southwest Missouri State stops Skyhawks" . The Jackson Sun . September 22, 1996. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Cannon fire fells JSU" . The Anniston Star . September 29, 1996. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "SIU can't get Cosey" . Southern Illinoisan . October 6, 1996. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Strong start saves UNI" . The Des Moines Register . October 20, 1996. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "ISU threatens Southwest, then stumbles again" . The Pantagraph . October 27, 1996. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Hecklinski, Western topple SW Missouri" . The Pantagraph . November 3, 1996. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Offensive woes sink Bears" . The Springfield News-Leader . November 10, 1996. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Southwest Missouri State ruins ISU's playoff chances" . The Indianapolis Star . November 17, 1996. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Missouri State Football 2023 Media Guide" (PDF) . Missouri State University Athletics. p. 65. Retrieved June 30, 2024 .