2021 Big Ten Conference Leaders First Downs - Games vs. FBS non-Power 5 Conference Teams Only through 01/10/2022
| Name | G | Rush | Pass | Penalty | Total | Total/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Penn State | 1 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 32 | 32.0 |
| 2 | Indiana | 2 | 18 | 33 | 4 | 55 | 27.5 |
| 3 | Michigan State | 1 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 26 | 26.0 |
| 4 | Michigan | 2 | 33 | 15 | 2 | 50 | 25.0 |
| 4 | Ohio State | 2 | 29 | 21 | 0 | 50 | 25.0 |
| 4 | Maryland | 1 | 10 | 14 | 1 | 25 | 25.0 |
| 7 | Purdue | 2 | 15 | 32 | 1 | 48 | 24.0 |
| 8 | Illinois | 2 | 24 | 18 | 4 | 46 | 23.0 |
| 9 | Northwestern | 1 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 22 | 22.0 |
| 10 | Rutgers | 1 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 21 | 21.0 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | 3 | 28 | 27 | 5 | 60 | 20.0 |
| 12 | Nebraska | 1 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 19 | 19.0 |
| 13 | Iowa | 2 | 12 | 19 | 2 | 33 | 16.5 |
| 14 | Minnesota | 2 | 21 | 8 | 2 | 31 | 15.5 |