2016 Conference USA Leaders Total Defense - Games in August/September Only through 01/09/2017
| Name | G | Rush Yards | Pass Yards | Plays | Total Yards | Yards/Play | Yards/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern Mississippi | 4 | 438 | 579 | 223 | 1017 | 4.56 | 254.3 |
| 2 | UTSA | 4 | 808 | 721 | 289 | 1529 | 5.29 | 382.3 |
| 3 | Middle Tennessee | 4 | 745 | 800 | 313 | 1545 | 4.94 | 386.3 |
| 4 | UTEP | 4 | 938 | 801 | 293 | 1739 | 5.94 | 434.8 |
| 5 | North Texas | 4 | 939 | 826 | 296 | 1765 | 5.96 | 441.3 |
| 6 | Old Dominion | 4 | 609 | 926 | 295 | 1535 | 5.20 | 383.8 |
| 7 | Marshall | 3 | 465 | 971 | 216 | 1436 | 6.65 | 478.7 |
| 8 | Florida International | 4 | 877 | 981 | 300 | 1858 | 6.19 | 464.5 |
| 9 | Florida Atlantic | 4 | 984 | 999 | 308 | 1983 | 6.44 | 495.8 |
| 10 | Louisiana Tech | 4 | 655 | 1154 | 297 | 1809 | 6.09 | 452.3 |
| 11 | Western Kentucky | 4 | 424 | 1155 | 302 | 1579 | 5.23 | 394.8 |
| 12 | Rice | 4 | 956 | 1184 | 307 | 2140 | 6.97 | 535.0 |
| 13 | Charlotte | 4 | 651 | 1295 | 282 | 1946 | 6.90 | 486.5 |