2017 Sun Belt Conference Leaders First Downs - Games in December/January Only through 01/08/2018
| Name | G | Rush | Pass | Penalty | Total | Total/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkansas State | 2 | 18 | 38 | 6 | 62 | 31.0 |
| 2 | Appalachian State | 2 | 33 | 15 | 2 | 50 | 25.0 |
| 3 | Georgia State | 2 | 19 | 25 | 3 | 47 | 23.5 |
| 4 | New Mexico State | 2 | 9 | 32 | 1 | 42 | 21.0 |
| 4 | South Alabama | 1 | 3 | 17 | 1 | 21 | 21.0 |
| 6 | Louisiana-Lafayette | 1 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 18 | 18.0 |
| 6 | Idaho | 1 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 18 | 18.0 |
| 8 | Troy | 2 | 5 | 25 | 5 | 35 | 17.5 |
| 9 | Coastal Carolina | 1 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 17.0 |
| 9 | Louisiana-Monroe | 1 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 17 | 17.0 |
| 11 | Georgia Southern | 1 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 16.0 |