2016 Sun Belt Conference Leaders First Downs - Games vs. FBS non-Power 5 Conference Teams Only through 01/09/2017
| Name | G | Rush | Pass | Penalty | Total | Total/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Appalachian State | 11 | 137 | 101 | 19 | 257 | 23.4 |
| 1 | Idaho | 10 | 79 | 133 | 22 | 234 | 23.4 |
| 3 | Troy | 11 | 95 | 132 | 23 | 250 | 22.7 |
| 4 | New Mexico State | 10 | 99 | 102 | 21 | 222 | 22.2 |
| 5 | Louisiana-Monroe | 9 | 94 | 81 | 15 | 190 | 21.1 |
| 6 | Louisiana-Lafayette | 11 | 111 | 84 | 20 | 215 | 19.5 |
| 7 | South Alabama | 10 | 78 | 101 | 12 | 191 | 19.1 |
| 8 | Arkansas State | 11 | 92 | 101 | 15 | 208 | 18.9 |
| 8 | Georgia Southern | 9 | 90 | 67 | 13 | 170 | 18.9 |
| 10 | Georgia State | 10 | 52 | 106 | 18 | 176 | 17.6 |
| 11 | Texas State | 10 | 53 | 101 | 16 | 170 | 17.0 |