1997 Samford Bulldogs football team

1997 NCAA Division I-AA independents football standings

Team	W		L	W		L
No. 18 Cal Poly		–		10	–	1
No. 5 Western Kentucky ^		–		10	–	2
No. 17 Hofstra ^		–		9	–	2
No. 25 Liberty		–		9	–	2
Samford		–		7	–	4
Morehead State		–		5	–	4
South Florida		–		5	–	6
Southern Utah		–		5	–	6
Saint Mary's		–		4	–	6
Davidson		–		3	–	8
Buffalo		–		2	–	9
La Salle		–		1	–	8
Charleston Southern		–		1	–	9
Austin Peay		–		0	–	10

^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 1997 Samford Bulldogs football team represented Samford University as an independent during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Pete Hurt, the Bulldogs compiled an overall record of 7–4. The team played home games at Seibert Stadium in Homewood, Alabama.