| 1896 VMI Keydets football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Independent |
| 1896 record | 3–4 |
| Head coach | G. W. Bryant (2nd season) |
The 1896 VMI Keydets football team represented the Virginia Military Institute in their sixth season of organized football. The Keydets had a 3–4 record, marking the first ever losing season in VMI football history.