2016 Big Ten Conference Leaders First Downs - Games vs. FBS Teams With Winning Record Only through 01/09/2017
| Name | G | Rush | Pass | Penalty | Total | Total/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State | 8 | 91 | 71 | 11 | 173 | 21.6 |
| 2 | Northwestern | 7 | 48 | 84 | 9 | 141 | 20.1 |
| 3 | Indiana | 7 | 39 | 85 | 13 | 137 | 19.6 |
| 4 | Penn State | 8 | 56 | 77 | 20 | 153 | 19.1 |
| 5 | Michigan State | 6 | 44 | 62 | 8 | 114 | 19.0 |
| 5 | Purdue | 6 | 29 | 72 | 13 | 114 | 19.0 |
| 7 | Michigan | 6 | 50 | 55 | 7 | 112 | 18.7 |
| 8 | Minnesota | 7 | 57 | 62 | 11 | 130 | 18.6 |
| 8 | Nebraska | 7 | 46 | 74 | 10 | 130 | 18.6 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 9 | 84 | 75 | 7 | 166 | 18.4 |
| 11 | Iowa | 7 | 51 | 43 | 10 | 104 | 14.9 |
| 12 | Illinois | 8 | 37 | 65 | 9 | 111 | 13.9 |
| 13 | Maryland | 6 | 34 | 46 | 2 | 82 | 13.7 |
| 14 | Rutgers | 7 | 47 | 41 | 6 | 94 | 13.4 |