The 1956 Sacramento State Hornets football team represented Sacramento State College—now known as California State University, Sacramento—as a member of the Far Western Conference (FWC) during the 1956 college football season. Led by Dave Strong in his third and final season as head coach, Sacramento State compiled an overall record of 3–5–1 with a mark of 1–4 in conference play, placing fifth in the FWC. For the season the team was outscored by its opponents 178 to 128. The Hornets played home games at Grant Stadium in Sacramento, California.
^Naval Air Station Alameda was a Naval Air Station from 1940 to 1997. For many years they fielded a team that played against colleges and other military teams.
^This stadium is the predecessor to the current Mackay Stadium, which was opened for the 1966 season.[8]