2017 Big Ten Conference Leaders First Downs - Games vs. Unranked Teams Only (AP Poll) through 01/08/2018
| Name | G | Rush | Pass | Penalty | Total | Total/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State | 9 | 124 | 109 | 19 | 252 | 28.0 |
| 2 | Northwestern | 10 | 111 | 106 | 17 | 234 | 23.4 |
| 3 | Penn State | 9 | 78 | 114 | 17 | 209 | 23.2 |
| 4 | Purdue | 11 | 107 | 118 | 21 | 246 | 22.4 |
| 5 | Indiana | 8 | 60 | 97 | 21 | 178 | 22.3 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | 11 | 129 | 97 | 17 | 243 | 22.1 |
| 7 | Michigan State | 9 | 95 | 76 | 16 | 187 | 20.8 |
| 8 | Nebraska | 8 | 55 | 95 | 13 | 163 | 20.4 |
| 9 | Iowa | 8 | 82 | 67 | 12 | 161 | 20.1 |
| 10 | Maryland | 6 | 58 | 47 | 12 | 117 | 19.5 |
| 11 | Minnesota | 9 | 105 | 48 | 15 | 168 | 18.7 |
| 12 | Michigan | 9 | 87 | 66 | 12 | 165 | 18.3 |
| 13 | Illinois | 8 | 53 | 62 | 11 | 126 | 15.8 |
| 14 | Rutgers | 8 | 65 | 39 | 14 | 118 | 14.8 |