[DZetye]

I have access to some 24/96 wav files and am trying to figure out how to play them on a CD player.  Do I need to convert them to a different format?

[Aleg]

No, a cd player will only play 44.1kHz/16-bit files.

Those need to be burned to a cd with a burner that can write them in a CD-audio format. It will not work when you write plain 44.1/16 wav files to a disc.

[DZetye]

What software will work for this CD rip?

[srb]

iTunes can convert your 24/96 file to 16/44.1 and burn an Audio CD.  You don't even need to convert them to 16/44.1 first.  After adding the 24/96 files to the iTunes Library, just drag them into a playlist (required to burn a CD), choose File > Burn Playlist to Disc and make sure that Audio CD is selected as the Disc Format.
 
Steve