2012 Mid-American Conference Leaders First Downs - Games vs. FBS (I-A) Teams Only through 01/07/2013
| Name | G | Rush | Pass | Penalty | Total | Total/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball State | 13 | 151 | 181 | 31 | 363 | 27.9 |
| 2 | Ohio | 12 | 127 | 134 | 21 | 282 | 23.5 |
| 3 | Northern Illinois | 13 | 152 | 131 | 17 | 300 | 23.1 |
| 4 | Toledo | 12 | 129 | 127 | 20 | 276 | 23.0 |
| 4 | Western Michigan | 11 | 89 | 143 | 21 | 253 | 23.0 |
| 6 | Akron | 11 | 68 | 151 | 25 | 244 | 22.2 |
| 7 | Miami (Ohio) | 11 | 62 | 145 | 21 | 228 | 20.7 |
| 8 | Central Michigan | 12 | 87 | 134 | 19 | 240 | 20.0 |
| 9 | Buffalo | 11 | 92 | 97 | 25 | 214 | 19.5 |
| 10 | Kent State | 13 | 133 | 97 | 19 | 249 | 19.2 |
| 11 | Bowling Green | 12 | 102 | 100 | 15 | 217 | 18.1 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | 12 | 69 | 119 | 18 | 206 | 17.2 |
| 12 | Eastern Michigan | 11 | 93 | 80 | 16 | 189 | 17.2 |