<page_title> 1996 NCAA Division I-AA football season </page_title> <section_title> Conference changes and new programs </section_title> <table> <cell> Cal State Northridge <col_header> School </col_header> </cell> <cell> American West <col_header> 1995 Conference </col_header> </cell> <cell> Big Sky <col_header> 1996 Conference </col_header> </cell> <cell> Cal Poly <col_header> School </col_header> </cell> <cell> American West <col_header> 1995 Conference </col_header> </cell> <cell> I-AA Independent <col_header> 1996 Conference </col_header> </cell> <cell> Sacramento State <col_header> School </col_header> </cell> <cell> American West <col_header> 1995 Conference </col_header> </cell> <cell> I-AA Independent <col_header> 1996 Conference </col_header> </cell> <cell> Southern Utah <col_header> School </col_header> </cell> <cell> American West <col_header> 1995 Conference </col_header> </cell> <cell> I-AA Independent <col_header> 1996 Conference </col_header> </cell> </table>
The Cal Poly, Sacramento State, and Southern Utah disbanded from the American West Conference in 1995 and became independents and the Cal State Northridge joined the Big Sky.