2021 Big Ten Conference Leaders Opponent First Downs - Games vs. FBS non-Power 5 Conference Teams Only through 01/10/2022
| Name | G | Rush | Pass | Penalty | Total | Total/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rutgers | 1 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 12 | 12.0 |
| 2 | Northwestern | 1 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 17 | 17.0 |
| 3 | Nebraska | 1 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 19 | 19.0 |
| 3 | Maryland | 1 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 27 | 27.0 |
| 5 | Purdue | 2 | 10 | 12 | 5 | 27 | 13.5 |
| 5 | Michigan | 2 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 28 | 14.0 |
| 5 | Penn State | 1 | 5 | 12 | 4 | 21 | 21.0 |
| 8 | Iowa | 2 | 12 | 15 | 2 | 29 | 14.5 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | 3 | 12 | 18 | 3 | 33 | 11.0 |
| 9 | Minnesota | 2 | 8 | 18 | 6 | 32 | 16.0 |
| 11 | Illinois | 2 | 17 | 21 | 5 | 43 | 21.5 |
| 12 | Michigan State | 1 | 6 | 22 | 3 | 31 | 31.0 |
| 13 | Indiana | 2 | 19 | 23 | 3 | 45 | 22.5 |
| 14 | Ohio State | 2 | 10 | 25 | 7 | 42 | 21.0 |