2016 Big Ten Conference Leaders First Downs - Games Lost Only through 01/09/2017
| Name | G | Rush | Pass | Penalty | Total | Total/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan State | 9 | 78 | 98 | 9 | 185 | 20.6 |
| 2 | Purdue | 9 | 44 | 115 | 20 | 179 | 19.9 |
| 3 | Indiana | 7 | 39 | 85 | 13 | 137 | 19.6 |
| 4 | Minnesota | 4 | 31 | 37 | 9 | 77 | 19.3 |
| 5 | Northwestern | 6 | 34 | 70 | 6 | 110 | 18.3 |
| 5 | Penn State | 3 | 17 | 30 | 8 | 55 | 18.3 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | 3 | 28 | 22 | 2 | 52 | 17.3 |
| 8 | Maryland | 7 | 47 | 60 | 4 | 111 | 15.9 |
| 9 | Michigan | 3 | 17 | 26 | 3 | 46 | 15.3 |
| 10 | Illinois | 9 | 49 | 74 | 12 | 135 | 15.0 |
| 10 | Nebraska | 4 | 20 | 35 | 5 | 60 | 15.0 |
| 12 | Rutgers | 10 | 72 | 66 | 8 | 146 | 14.6 |
| 13 | Ohio State | 2 | 12 | 13 | 3 | 28 | 14.0 |
| 14 | Iowa | 5 | 28 | 34 | 7 | 69 | 13.8 |