The 1896 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin in the 1896 Western Conference football season. In their first season under head coach Philip King, the Badgers compiled a 7–1–1 record (2–0–1 against Western Conference opponents), shut out six of nine opponents, outscored all opponents by a combined total of 206 to 30, and won the first Western Conference championship.[1][2]
Wisconsin played three conference games: a victory over Chicago (24–0) on November 7;[3] a victory over Minnesota (6–0) on November 21;[4][5] and a tie with Northwestern (6–6) on November 26.[6] Wisconsin's sole loss was to the Carlisle Indians (18–8) in a night game played indoors and under the lights at the Chicago Coliseum before a crowd of 16,000 persons.[7] Wisconsin did not play another night game until 1953.[8]
Four Wisconsin players were selected to the 1896 All-Western football team published in the Chicago Inter Ocean: end Chester Brown, tackle J. F. A. "Sunny" Pyre, guard John E. Ryan, and halfback John "Ikey" Karel.[9]John R. Richards was the team captain.[10]
