2016 Big Ten Conference 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 | Ohio State | 3 | 307 | 528 | 209 | 835 | 4.00 | 278.3 |
| 2 | Michigan State | 3 | 266 | 678 | 193 | 944 | 4.89 | 314.7 |
| 3 | Minnesota | 3 | 356 | 686 | 223 | 1042 | 4.67 | 347.3 |
| 4 | Indiana | 3 | 383 | 671 | 215 | 1054 | 4.90 | 351.3 |
| 5 | Illinois | 3 | 474 | 590 | 190 | 1064 | 5.60 | 354.7 |
| 6 | Michigan | 4 | 490 | 589 | 250 | 1079 | 4.32 | 269.8 |
| 7 | Maryland | 3 | 466 | 630 | 223 | 1096 | 4.91 | 365.3 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 4 | 322 | 786 | 220 | 1108 | 5.04 | 277.0 |
| 9 | Purdue | 3 | 506 | 657 | 228 | 1163 | 5.10 | 387.7 |
| 10 | Rutgers | 4 | 727 | 723 | 264 | 1450 | 5.49 | 362.5 |
| 11 | Iowa | 4 | 716 | 745 | 285 | 1461 | 5.13 | 365.3 |
| 12 | Nebraska | 4 | 635 | 829 | 272 | 1464 | 5.38 | 366.0 |
| 13 | Penn State | 4 | 855 | 695 | 286 | 1550 | 5.42 | 387.5 |
| 14 | Northwestern | 4 | 710 | 1030 | 314 | 1740 | 5.54 | 435.0 |