2016 Big Ten Conference Leaders Total Defense - All Games through 01/09/2017
| Name | G | Rush Yards | Pass Yards | Plays | Total Yards | Yards/Play | Yards/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | 13 | 1550 | 1853 | 809 | 3403 | 4.21 | 261.8 |
| 2 | Illinois | 12 | 2630 | 2231 | 877 | 4861 | 5.54 | 405.1 |
| 3 | Rutgers | 12 | 3170 | 2238 | 851 | 5408 | 6.35 | 450.7 |
| 4 | Ohio State | 13 | 1610 | 2239 | 882 | 3849 | 4.36 | 296.1 |
| 5 | Michigan State | 12 | 1904 | 2474 | 792 | 4378 | 5.53 | 364.8 |
| 6 | Purdue | 12 | 2861 | 2489 | 860 | 5350 | 6.22 | 445.8 |
| 7 | Iowa | 13 | 1947 | 2618 | 893 | 4565 | 5.11 | 351.2 |
| 8 | Maryland | 13 | 2792 | 2760 | 980 | 5552 | 5.67 | 427.1 |
| 9 | Nebraska | 13 | 1922 | 2806 | 855 | 4728 | 5.53 | 363.7 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 14 | 1383 | 2836 | 857 | 4219 | 4.92 | 301.4 |
| 11 | Indiana | 13 | 2085 | 2856 | 971 | 4941 | 5.09 | 380.1 |
| 12 | Minnesota | 13 | 1532 | 3002 | 940 | 4534 | 4.82 | 348.8 |
| 13 | Penn State | 14 | 2118 | 3033 | 1023 | 5151 | 5.04 | 367.9 |
| 14 | Northwestern | 13 | 1809 | 3448 | 974 | 5257 | 5.40 | 404.4 |