2012 Mid-American Conference Leaders First Downs - Games vs. Unranked Teams Only (AP Poll) through 01/07/2013
| Name | G | Rush | Pass | Penalty | Total | Total/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball State | 11 | 132 | 156 | 26 | 314 | 28.5 |
| 2 | Akron | 11 | 75 | 173 | 24 | 272 | 24.7 |
| 3 | Northern Illinois | 13 | 158 | 137 | 14 | 309 | 23.8 |
| 4 | Ohio | 13 | 134 | 142 | 26 | 302 | 23.2 |
| 4 | Western Michigan | 11 | 91 | 145 | 19 | 255 | 23.2 |
| 6 | Miami (Ohio) | 10 | 65 | 143 | 22 | 230 | 23.0 |
| 7 | Toledo | 11 | 118 | 120 | 13 | 251 | 22.8 |
| 8 | Central Michigan | 12 | 97 | 131 | 20 | 248 | 20.7 |
| 9 | Buffalo | 10 | 91 | 85 | 23 | 199 | 19.9 |
| 10 | Bowling Green | 11 | 100 | 97 | 16 | 213 | 19.4 |
| 11 | Kent State | 13 | 134 | 95 | 18 | 247 | 19.0 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | 9 | 46 | 92 | 14 | 152 | 16.9 |
| 13 | Eastern Michigan | 11 | 91 | 78 | 16 | 185 | 16.8 |