The 1996 Las Vegas Bowl was the 5th edition of that annual game. It featured the , and the . Ball State was 8-3, after winning 8 straight games following an 0-3 start. They also won the MAC football championship.

Nevada scored first following a 16 yard touchdown pass from quarterback John Dutton to Damond Wilkins, but the extra point attempt failed leaving the score 6-0 Nevada. Damon Shea made up for his missed PAT by kicking a 22 yard field goal making it 9-0 Nevada in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, LeAndre Moore rushed 62 yards for a touchdown for Ball State, to cut the lead to 9-7. Damon Shea's 33 yard field goal attempt with 44 seconds left in the first half made the halftime score 12-7, Nevada. The teams would go scoreless in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Eric Bennett threw an 11 yard touchdown pass to Damond Wilkins, but the ensuing 2 point conversion attempt failed, making the score 18-7 Nevada. Brent Baldwin threw a 27 yard touchdown pass to Adrian Reese, and the 2 point conversion attempt was successful leaving the score 18-15 Nevada. Nevada ran out the clock on its next possession.