AP Poll - December 9, 1996
Poll 5 of 18 of the 1996-1997 season; Stanford is No. 1 (unchanged).
| Rank | School | Conference | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Stanford | Pac-10 | - |
| 2. | Connecticut | Big East | - |
| 3. | Louisiana Tech | Sun Belt | - |
| 4. | Georgia | SEC | 1 |
| 5. | Tennessee | SEC | 1 |
| 6. | Old Dominion | CAA | - |
| 7. | Alabama | SEC | 1 |
| 8. | Texas Tech | Big 12 | 2 |
| 9. | NC State | ACC | 2 |
| 10. | Notre Dame | Big East | 3 |
| 11. | Western Kentucky | Sun Belt | 3 |
| 12. | Iowa | Big 10 | 3 |
| 12. | Penn State | Big 10 | 4 |
| 14. | Virginia | ACC | 2 |
| 15. | Vanderbilt | SEC | 2 |
| 16. | Texas | Big 12 | 3 |
| 17. | Duke | ACC | 2 |
| 18. | Kansas | Big 12 | - |
| 19. | Wisconsin | Big 10 | 4 |
| 20. | North Carolina | ACC | 2 |
| 21. | Colorado | Big 12 | 4 |
| 22. | Clemson | ACC | 2 |
| 23. | Arkansas | SEC | 2 |
| 24. | Stephen F. Austin | SLC | 1 |
| 25. | Auburn | SEC | new |