2016 Big Ten Conference Leaders First Downs - Games vs. FBS non-Power 5 Conference Teams Only through 01/09/2017
| Name | G | Rush | Pass | Penalty | Total | Total/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State | 2 | 37 | 21 | 3 | 61 | 30.5 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 3 | 32 | 40 | 3 | 75 | 25.0 |
| 3 | Maryland | 2 | 27 | 15 | 0 | 42 | 21.0 |
| 4 | Indiana | 2 | 26 | 18 | 1 | 45 | 22.5 |
| 5 | Michigan | 2 | 25 | 22 | 2 | 49 | 24.5 |
| 6 | Nebraska | 2 | 20 | 21 | 4 | 45 | 22.5 |
| 7 | Purdue | 2 | 18 | 34 | 2 | 54 | 27.0 |
| 8 | Penn State | 2 | 17 | 17 | 6 | 40 | 20.0 |
| 9 | Michigan State | 2 | 14 | 19 | 2 | 35 | 17.5 |
| 10 | Iowa | 1 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 17.0 |
| 11 | Minnesota | 1 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 21 | 21.0 |
| 12 | Northwestern | 1 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 15 | 15.0 |
| 13 | Rutgers | 1 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 14.0 |
| 14 | Illinois | 1 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 15 | 15.0 |