2012 National Leaders Rushing Defense - On 3rd Down through 01/07/2013
| Name | G | Att | Yards | Avg. | TD | Long | 1st | 10+ | 20+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bowling Green | 13 | 77 | 106 | 1.38 | 0 | 28 | 24 | 12 | 2 |
| 1 | Notre Dame | 13 | 60 | 112 | 1.87 | 0 | 20 | 23 | 8 | 1 |
| 1 | TCU | 13 | 68 | 120 | 1.76 | 0 | 49 | 19 | 4 | 1 |
| 1 | Utah State | 13 | 82 | 163 | 1.99 | 0 | 16 | 34 | 12 | 0 |
| 1 | LSU | 13 | 71 | 236 | 3.32 | 0 | 43 | 26 | 10 | 1 |
| 1 | North Carolina | 12 | 67 | 340 | 5.07 | 0 | 71 | 27 | 14 | 4 |
| 7 | Stanford | 14 | 62 | 54 | 0.87 | 1 | 14 | 17 | 5 | 0 |
| 7 | Virginia | 12 | 65 | 55 | 0.85 | 1 | 16 | 16 | 2 | 0 |
| 7 | Florida State | 14 | 74 | 57 | 0.77 | 1 | 31 | 18 | 6 | 3 |
| 7 | Kansas State | 13 | 74 | 88 | 1.19 | 1 | 15 | 25 | 9 | 0 |
| 7 | BYU | 13 | 66 | 98 | 1.48 | 1 | 55 | 14 | 3 | 2 |
| 7 | Western Michigan | 12 | 58 | 108 | 1.86 | 1 | 33 | 21 | 3 | 1 |
| 7 | Virginia Tech | 13 | 70 | 118 | 1.69 | 1 | 17 | 18 | 9 | 0 |
| 7 | Cincinnati | 13 | 62 | 130 | 2.10 | 1 | 15 | 25 | 5 | 0 |
| 7 | South Florida | 12 | 66 | 135 | 2.05 | 1 | 42 | 22 | 10 | 2 |
| 7 | Florida | 13 | 61 | 175 | 2.87 | 1 | 24 | 22 | 8 | 2 |
| 7 | Ohio | 13 | 70 | 211 | 3.01 | 1 | 31 | 30 | 12 | 1 |
| 7 | Nebraska | 14 | 77 | 215 | 2.79 | 1 | 46 | 32 | 7 | 2 |
| 7 | Toledo | 13 | 67 | 233 | 3.48 | 1 | 36 | 31 | 10 | 3 |
| 7 | Florida Atlantic | 12 | 75 | 274 | 3.65 | 1 | 18 | 28 | 8 | 0 |
| 7 | SMU | 13 | 63 | 275 | 4.37 | 1 | 36 | 26 | 13 | 5 |
| 7 | New Mexico | 13 | 62 | 286 | 4.61 | 1 | 42 | 27 | 12 | 2 |
| 7 | Texas State | 12 | 53 | 310 | 5.85 | 1 | 53 | 24 | 10 | 5 |
| 24 | Alabama | 14 | 69 | 92 | 1.33 | 2 | 32 | 22 | 7 | 1 |
| 24 | Michigan State | 13 | 58 | 128 | 2.21 | 2 | 37 | 13 | 5 | 1 |
| 24 | Connecticut | 12 | 70 | 137 | 1.96 | 2 | 26 | 23 | 4 | 3 |
| 24 | Texas A&M | 13 | 71 | 141 | 1.99 | 2 | 23 | 22 | 8 | 1 |
| 24 | Oregon State | 13 | 67 | 149 | 2.22 | 2 | 25 | 20 | 10 | 2 |
| 24 | Vanderbilt | 13 | 82 | 161 | 1.96 | 2 | 29 | 28 | 7 | 2 |
| 24 | San Diego State | 13 | 80 | 161 | 2.01 | 2 | 17 | 29 | 8 | 0 |
| 24 | Oregon | 13 | 75 | 170 | 2.27 | 2 | 23 | 25 | 9 | 1 |
| 24 | Maryland | 12 | 72 | 197 | 2.74 | 2 | 47 | 24 | 10 | 2 |
| 24 | Michigan | 13 | 90 | 212 | 2.36 | 2 | 23 | 35 | 13 | 2 |
| 24 | West Virginia | 13 | 84 | 213 | 2.54 | 2 | 24 | 40 | 8 | 2 |
| 24 | South Carolina | 13 | 92 | 216 | 2.35 | 2 | 24 | 34 | 6 | 1 |
| 24 | Troy | 12 | 66 | 218 | 3.30 | 2 | 40 | 25 | 9 | 2 |
| 24 | Buffalo | 12 | 81 | 219 | 2.70 | 2 | 50 | 27 | 6 | 1 |
| 24 | UTSA | 10 | 56 | 223 | 3.98 | 2 | 44 | 25 | 7 | 2 |
| 24 | Akron | 12 | 67 | 234 | 3.49 | 2 | 19 | 24 | 9 | 0 |
| 24 | Texas Tech | 13 | 82 | 243 | 2.96 | 2 | 21 | 35 | 10 | 2 |
| 24 | Clemson | 13 | 79 | 259 | 3.28 | 2 | 43 | 24 | 11 | 6 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | 14 | 74 | 262 | 3.54 | 2 | 76 | 27 | 8 | 3 |
| 24 | Rutgers | 13 | 78 | 275 | 3.53 | 2 | 42 | 29 | 11 | 3 |
| 24 | Washington | 13 | 71 | 294 | 4.14 | 2 | 64 | 27 | 11 | 3 |
| 24 | Georgia | 14 | 110 | 305 | 2.77 | 2 | 36 | 38 | 11 | 4 |
| 24 | Georgia Tech | 13 | 63 | 322 | 5.11 | 2 | 60 | 28 | 14 | 4 |
| 24 | Fresno State | 13 | 93 | 400 | 4.30 | 2 | 67 | 36 | 17 | 5 |
| 48 | Penn State | 12 | 60 | 60 | 1.00 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 4 | 0 |
| 48 | Missouri | 12 | 60 | 97 | 1.62 | 3 | 13 | 20 | 5 | 0 |
| 48 | North Carolina State | 13 | 70 | 141 | 2.01 | 3 | 23 | 20 | 11 | 2 |
| 48 | Utah | 12 | 59 | 151 | 2.56 | 3 | 23 | 20 | 6 | 1 |
| 48 | Memphis | 12 | 63 | 216 | 3.43 | 3 | 25 | 30 | 9 | 2 |
| 48 | USC | 13 | 68 | 239 | 3.51 | 3 | 27 | 28 | 10 | 2 |
| 48 | Temple | 11 | 69 | 246 | 3.57 | 3 | 40 | 33 | 14 | 3 |
| 48 | Mississippi | 13 | 83 | 250 | 3.01 | 3 | 38 | 32 | 13 | 2 |
| 48 | Northwestern | 13 | 68 | 252 | 3.71 | 3 | 26 | 32 | 9 | 3 |
| 48 | Navy | 13 | 83 | 260 | 3.13 | 3 | 18 | 46 | 7 | 0 |
| 48 | Arkansas State | 13 | 79 | 269 | 3.41 | 3 | 44 | 30 | 8 | 2 |
| 48 | Kentucky | 12 | 83 | 289 | 3.48 | 3 | 26 | 46 | 11 | 2 |
| 48 | Iowa State | 13 | 85 | 292 | 3.44 | 3 | 48 | 35 | 9 | 1 |
| 48 | UCLA | 14 | 97 | 342 | 3.53 | 3 | 86 | 36 | 12 | 2 |
| 48 | California | 12 | 62 | 370 | 5.97 | 3 | 62 | 33 | 12 | 4 |
| 48 | New Mexico State | 12 | 66 | 379 | 5.74 | 3 | 44 | 32 | 10 | 6 |
| 48 | Arizona | 13 | 85 | 380 | 4.47 | 3 | 24 | 40 | 19 | 2 |
| 48 | Pittsburgh | 13 | 82 | 384 | 4.68 | 3 | 59 | 37 | 13 | 3 |
| 48 | Southern Mississippi | 12 | 66 | 386 | 5.85 | 3 | 40 | 40 | 15 | 6 |
| 67 | Ohio State | 12 | 57 | 102 | 1.79 | 4 | 20 | 18 | 7 | 1 |
| 67 | Kent State | 14 | 80 | 182 | 2.28 | 4 | 22 | 28 | 11 | 1 |
| 67 | Rice | 13 | 72 | 213 | 2.96 | 4 | 45 | 26 | 7 | 3 |
| 67 | Middle Tennessee | 12 | 67 | 214 | 3.19 | 4 | 15 | 35 | 7 | 0 |
| 67 | Illinois | 12 | 61 | 214 | 3.51 | 4 | 63 | 26 | 6 | 2 |
| 67 | Syracuse | 13 | 74 | 220 | 2.97 | 4 | 71 | 24 | 8 | 1 |
| 67 | Louisiana-Lafayette | 12 | 75 | 227 | 3.03 | 4 | 25 | 30 | 10 | 1 |
| 67 | Washington State | 12 | 82 | 244 | 2.98 | 4 | 32 | 29 | 9 | 2 |
| 67 | UTEP | 12 | 60 | 244 | 4.07 | 4 | 30 | 27 | 11 | 1 |
| 67 | Purdue | 13 | 69 | 245 | 3.55 | 4 | 27 | 31 | 12 | 4 |
| 67 | Massachusetts | 12 | 57 | 245 | 4.30 | 4 | 36 | 24 | 9 | 2 |
| 67 | East Carolina | 13 | 70 | 247 | 3.53 | 4 | 68 | 24 | 7 | 3 |
| 67 | Colorado | 12 | 62 | 252 | 4.06 | 4 | 42 | 26 | 9 | 3 |
| 67 | Houston | 12 | 73 | 257 | 3.52 | 4 | 25 | 36 | 9 | 3 |
| 67 | Florida International | 12 | 63 | 259 | 4.11 | 4 | 33 | 29 | 11 | 2 |
| 67 | Oklahoma State | 13 | 72 | 263 | 3.65 | 4 | 25 | 30 | 12 | 3 |
| 67 | UCF | 14 | 93 | 283 | 3.04 | 4 | 27 | 40 | 11 | 2 |
| 67 | Northern Illinois | 14 | 102 | 300 | 2.94 | 4 | 27 | 46 | 18 | 3 |
| 67 | Louisiana-Monroe | 13 | 77 | 302 | 3.92 | 4 | 61 | 38 | 11 | 4 |
| 67 | Tulane | 12 | 72 | 329 | 4.57 | 4 | 72 | 34 | 14 | 4 |
| 67 | Colorado State | 12 | 91 | 335 | 3.68 | 4 | 18 | 50 | 11 | 0 |
| 67 | Iowa | 12 | 73 | 355 | 4.86 | 4 | 73 | 32 | 12 | 5 |
| 67 | Ball State | 13 | 86 | 416 | 4.84 | 4 | 71 | 39 | 19 | 2 |
| 90 | Arkansas | 12 | 69 | 90 | 1.30 | 5 | 20 | 21 | 8 | 1 |
| 90 | South Alabama | 13 | 68 | 106 | 1.56 | 5 | 32 | 22 | 5 | 1 |
| 90 | Arizona State | 13 | 95 | 172 | 1.81 | 5 | 25 | 34 | 9 | 2 |
| 90 | Miami (Ohio) | 12 | 72 | 261 | 3.63 | 5 | 29 | 33 | 10 | 2 |
| 90 | Central Michigan | 13 | 73 | 286 | 3.92 | 5 | 42 | 32 | 10 | 2 |
| 90 | Louisville | 13 | 62 | 309 | 4.98 | 5 | 55 | 32 | 7 | 2 |
| 90 | Nevada | 13 | 76 | 320 | 4.21 | 5 | 39 | 39 | 9 | 4 |
| 90 | Indiana | 12 | 69 | 333 | 4.83 | 5 | 69 | 25 | 9 | 5 |
| 90 | Kansas | 12 | 70 | 342 | 4.89 | 5 | 43 | 25 | 11 | 3 |
| 90 | Wyoming | 12 | 81 | 375 | 4.63 | 5 | 48 | 40 | 13 | 5 |
| 100 | Tennessee | 12 | 62 | 218 | 3.52 | 6 | 39 | 20 | 7 | 2 |
| 100 | Wake Forest | 12 | 78 | 231 | 2.96 | 6 | 29 | 33 | 11 | 2 |
| 100 | Miami (Florida) | 12 | 59 | 231 | 3.92 | 6 | 73 | 29 | 6 | 1 |
| 100 | North Texas | 12 | 58 | 285 | 4.91 | 6 | 60 | 34 | 7 | 5 |
| 100 | Tulsa | 14 | 92 | 287 | 3.12 | 6 | 74 | 36 | 14 | 4 |
| 100 | Minnesota | 13 | 83 | 291 | 3.51 | 6 | 44 | 38 | 12 | 2 |
| 100 | Army | 12 | 80 | 295 | 3.69 | 6 | 37 | 33 | 13 | 3 |
| 100 | Boise State | 13 | 82 | 303 | 3.70 | 6 | 72 | 34 | 8 | 5 |
| 100 | Western Kentucky | 13 | 70 | 328 | 4.69 | 6 | 61 | 30 | 13 | 4 |
| 100 | San Jose State | 13 | 75 | 374 | 4.99 | 6 | 86 | 31 | 9 | 5 |
| 100 | Auburn | 12 | 87 | 420 | 4.83 | 6 | 62 | 35 | 11 | 5 |
| 111 | Idaho | 12 | 58 | 175 | 3.02 | 7 | 29 | 18 | 6 | 2 |
| 111 | Texas | 13 | 75 | 213 | 2.84 | 7 | 26 | 25 | 9 | 2 |
| 111 | Marshall | 12 | 84 | 276 | 3.29 | 7 | 42 | 35 | 9 | 3 |
| 111 | Duke | 13 | 82 | 286 | 3.49 | 7 | 26 | 35 | 9 | 3 |
| 111 | UAB | 12 | 72 | 302 | 4.19 | 7 | 46 | 31 | 12 | 3 |
| 111 | Mississippi State | 13 | 77 | 308 | 4.00 | 7 | 37 | 33 | 11 | 3 |
| 111 | Baylor | 13 | 69 | 311 | 4.51 | 7 | 55 | 35 | 11 | 4 |
| 111 | UNLV | 13 | 90 | 415 | 4.61 | 7 | 48 | 45 | 13 | 3 |
| 111 | Eastern Michigan | 12 | 83 | 621 | 7.48 | 7 | 87 | 48 | 18 | 9 |
| 120 | Louisiana Tech | 12 | 59 | 276 | 4.68 | 8 | 72 | 29 | 9 | 4 |
| 120 | Oklahoma | 13 | 65 | 289 | 4.45 | 8 | 29 | 32 | 10 | 3 |
| 120 | Boston College | 12 | 93 | 360 | 3.87 | 8 | 29 | 48 | 12 | 2 |
| 123 | Hawai'i | 12 | 92 | 353 | 3.84 | 9 | 52 | 34 | 10 | 3 |
| 124 | Air Force | 13 | 97 | 299 | 3.08 | 10 | 35 | 38 | 12 | 3 |
| 1st: First Downs; 10+: Rush attempts of 10 or more yards; 20+: Rush attempts of 20 or more yards | ||||||||||