2016 National Leaders Opponent First Downs - Games in August/September Only through 01/09/2017
| Name | G | Rush | Pass | Penalty | Total | Total/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas State | 3 | 14 | 14 | 2 | 30 | 10.0 |
| 2 | Houston | 5 | 11 | 43 | 2 | 56 | 11.2 |
| 3 | Southern Miss | 4 | 22 | 19 | 5 | 46 | 11.5 |
| 4 | Virginia Tech | 4 | 21 | 22 | 6 | 49 | 12.3 |
| 5 | Alabama | 4 | 13 | 32 | 6 | 51 | 12.8 |
| 5 | Florida | 4 | 18 | 22 | 11 | 51 | 12.8 |
| 5 | Army | 4 | 18 | 31 | 2 | 51 | 12.8 |
| 8 | Boston College | 4 | 22 | 23 | 7 | 52 | 13.0 |
| 9 | Miami (FL) | 3 | 16 | 21 | 6 | 43 | 14.3 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | 4 | 15 | 37 | 5 | 57 | 14.3 |
| 11 | Clemson | 4 | 23 | 23 | 12 | 58 | 14.5 |
| 11 | Michigan | 4 | 27 | 23 | 8 | 58 | 14.5 |
| 11 | Toledo | 4 | 30 | 22 | 6 | 58 | 14.5 |
| 14 | Air Force | 3 | 8 | 30 | 6 | 44 | 14.7 |
| 15 | Memphis | 3 | 16 | 23 | 6 | 45 | 15.0 |
| 16 | Western Michigan | 4 | 23 | 34 | 4 | 61 | 15.3 |
| 17 | Georgia Southern | 4 | 23 | 34 | 6 | 63 | 15.8 |
| 17 | Colorado | 4 | 23 | 35 | 5 | 63 | 15.8 |
| 17 | Duke | 4 | 26 | 33 | 4 | 63 | 15.8 |
| 20 | NC State | 3 | 16 | 26 | 6 | 48 | 16.0 |
| 20 | Tulane | 4 | 30 | 30 | 4 | 64 | 16.0 |
| 22 | Ohio State | 3 | 17 | 28 | 4 | 49 | 16.3 |
| 22 | Utah | 4 | 23 | 37 | 5 | 65 | 16.3 |
| 22 | East Carolina | 4 | 24 | 36 | 5 | 65 | 16.3 |
| 25 | Auburn | 4 | 28 | 32 | 6 | 66 | 16.5 |
| 25 | UCF | 4 | 33 | 29 | 4 | 66 | 16.5 |
| 27 | Wake Forest | 4 | 20 | 41 | 7 | 68 | 17.0 |
| 27 | Tulsa | 4 | 29 | 35 | 4 | 68 | 17.0 |
| 29 | Michigan State | 3 | 14 | 31 | 7 | 52 | 17.3 |
| 29 | New Mexico | 3 | 24 | 23 | 5 | 52 | 17.3 |
| 29 | Central Michigan | 4 | 21 | 44 | 4 | 69 | 17.3 |
| 29 | Georgia | 4 | 29 | 38 | 2 | 69 | 17.3 |
| 29 | Rutgers | 4 | 35 | 31 | 3 | 69 | 17.3 |
| 34 | LSU | 4 | 27 | 39 | 4 | 70 | 17.5 |
| 35 | Washington | 5 | 36 | 41 | 11 | 88 | 17.6 |
| 36 | Ball State | 4 | 27 | 41 | 3 | 71 | 17.8 |
| 36 | Arkansas | 4 | 29 | 39 | 3 | 71 | 17.8 |
| 38 | Illinois | 3 | 17 | 29 | 8 | 54 | 18.0 |
| 38 | Tennessee | 4 | 26 | 38 | 8 | 72 | 18.0 |
| 38 | Louisville | 4 | 35 | 26 | 11 | 72 | 18.0 |
| 41 | Indiana | 3 | 18 | 30 | 7 | 55 | 18.3 |
| 41 | Maryland | 3 | 23 | 27 | 5 | 55 | 18.3 |
| 41 | Stanford | 4 | 27 | 42 | 4 | 73 | 18.3 |
| 41 | Penn State | 4 | 37 | 31 | 5 | 73 | 18.3 |
| 45 | Baylor | 4 | 33 | 31 | 10 | 74 | 18.5 |
| 46 | Texas | 3 | 18 | 32 | 6 | 56 | 18.7 |
| 47 | Georgia Tech | 4 | 28 | 44 | 3 | 75 | 18.8 |
| 48 | Navy | 3 | 29 | 25 | 3 | 57 | 19.0 |
| 48 | TCU | 4 | 28 | 44 | 4 | 76 | 19.0 |
| 48 | Nebraska | 4 | 30 | 37 | 9 | 76 | 19.0 |
| 48 | Oklahoma State | 4 | 32 | 39 | 5 | 76 | 19.0 |
| 48 | USC | 4 | 40 | 32 | 4 | 76 | 19.0 |
| 53 | San Diego State | 3 | 19 | 32 | 7 | 58 | 19.3 |
| 53 | Ohio | 4 | 30 | 43 | 4 | 77 | 19.3 |
| 53 | Florida State | 4 | 40 | 27 | 10 | 77 | 19.3 |
| 53 | South Alabama | 4 | 40 | 32 | 5 | 77 | 19.3 |
| 57 | Missouri | 4 | 23 | 48 | 7 | 78 | 19.5 |
| 57 | Utah State | 4 | 37 | 34 | 7 | 78 | 19.5 |
| 57 | Temple | 4 | 44 | 24 | 10 | 78 | 19.5 |
| 60 | UCLA | 4 | 33 | 40 | 7 | 80 | 20.0 |
| 61 | Connecticut | 5 | 31 | 63 | 7 | 101 | 20.2 |
| 62 | Boise State | 3 | 16 | 38 | 7 | 61 | 20.3 |
| 62 | Pittsburgh | 4 | 18 | 55 | 8 | 81 | 20.3 |
| 62 | Mississippi State | 4 | 25 | 51 | 5 | 81 | 20.3 |
| 65 | Troy | 4 | 23 | 50 | 9 | 82 | 20.5 |
| 66 | Minnesota | 3 | 23 | 31 | 8 | 62 | 20.7 |
| 66 | Oklahoma | 3 | 23 | 34 | 5 | 62 | 20.7 |
| 66 | Purdue | 3 | 24 | 36 | 2 | 62 | 20.7 |
| 69 | Wyoming | 4 | 27 | 50 | 6 | 83 | 20.8 |
| 69 | Iowa | 4 | 46 | 35 | 2 | 83 | 20.8 |
| 71 | Syracuse | 4 | 38 | 43 | 3 | 84 | 21.0 |
| 72 | Washington State | 3 | 15 | 42 | 7 | 64 | 21.3 |
| 72 | Appalachian State | 4 | 26 | 52 | 7 | 85 | 21.3 |
| 72 | Massachusetts | 4 | 37 | 44 | 4 | 85 | 21.3 |
| 72 | Middle Tennessee State | 4 | 40 | 38 | 7 | 85 | 21.3 |
| 72 | UTSA | 4 | 41 | 34 | 10 | 85 | 21.3 |
| 77 | Western Kentucky | 4 | 26 | 47 | 13 | 86 | 21.5 |
| 77 | Colorado State | 4 | 31 | 51 | 4 | 86 | 21.5 |
| 77 | Miami (OH) | 4 | 39 | 40 | 7 | 86 | 21.5 |
| 77 | North Texas | 4 | 43 | 31 | 12 | 86 | 21.5 |
| 77 | Nevada | 4 | 53 | 31 | 2 | 86 | 21.5 |
| 82 | Oregon State | 3 | 28 | 32 | 5 | 65 | 21.7 |
| 82 | Buffalo | 3 | 42 | 18 | 5 | 65 | 21.7 |
| 84 | Vanderbilt | 4 | 36 | 46 | 5 | 87 | 21.8 |
| 84 | San Jose State | 4 | 48 | 37 | 2 | 87 | 21.8 |
| 86 | Kent State | 4 | 41 | 37 | 10 | 88 | 22.0 |
| 86 | Notre Dame | 4 | 41 | 39 | 8 | 88 | 22.0 |
| 86 | Fresno State | 4 | 57 | 26 | 5 | 88 | 22.0 |
| 89 | Arizona State | 4 | 18 | 64 | 7 | 89 | 22.3 |
| 89 | Virginia | 4 | 26 | 53 | 10 | 89 | 22.3 |
| 89 | Louisiana | 4 | 27 | 56 | 6 | 89 | 22.3 |
| 89 | North Carolina | 4 | 44 | 35 | 10 | 89 | 22.3 |
| 93 | Eastern Michigan | 4 | 30 | 45 | 15 | 90 | 22.5 |
| 93 | Old Dominion | 4 | 37 | 45 | 8 | 90 | 22.5 |
| 95 | Texas A&M | 4 | 28 | 50 | 13 | 91 | 22.8 |
| 95 | UNLV | 4 | 31 | 49 | 11 | 91 | 22.8 |
| 95 | Cincinnati | 4 | 38 | 48 | 5 | 91 | 22.8 |
| 95 | BYU | 5 | 35 | 67 | 12 | 114 | 22.8 |
| 99 | Marshall | 3 | 21 | 37 | 12 | 70 | 23.3 |
| 99 | Iowa State | 4 | 45 | 40 | 8 | 93 | 23.3 |
| 99 | Kansas | 4 | 45 | 42 | 6 | 93 | 23.3 |
| 99 | UTEP | 4 | 52 | 34 | 7 | 93 | 23.3 |
| 99 | Ole Miss | 4 | 52 | 36 | 5 | 93 | 23.3 |
| 104 | South Carolina | 4 | 41 | 44 | 10 | 95 | 23.8 |
| 104 | FIU | 4 | 46 | 45 | 4 | 95 | 23.8 |
| 106 | SMU | 4 | 37 | 53 | 6 | 96 | 24.0 |
| 106 | Rice | 4 | 46 | 45 | 5 | 96 | 24.0 |
| 108 | Arkansas State | 4 | 43 | 45 | 9 | 97 | 24.3 |
| 109 | West Virginia | 3 | 35 | 35 | 4 | 74 | 24.7 |
| 110 | Idaho | 4 | 38 | 53 | 8 | 99 | 24.8 |
| 110 | Florida Atlantic | 4 | 47 | 49 | 3 | 99 | 24.8 |
| 112 | USF | 4 | 53 | 38 | 9 | 100 | 25.0 |
| 113 | Louisiana Tech | 4 | 38 | 54 | 9 | 101 | 25.3 |
| 113 | Northwestern | 4 | 42 | 54 | 5 | 101 | 25.3 |
| 113 | Arizona | 4 | 46 | 49 | 6 | 101 | 25.3 |
| 116 | Texas Tech | 4 | 35 | 60 | 7 | 102 | 25.5 |
| 116 | Charlotte | 4 | 37 | 56 | 9 | 102 | 25.5 |
| 116 | Kentucky | 4 | 48 | 47 | 7 | 102 | 25.5 |
| 119 | Georgia State | 3 | 53 | 23 | 1 | 77 | 25.7 |
| 120 | Northern Illinois | 4 | 41 | 48 | 15 | 104 | 26.0 |
| 120 | Bowling Green | 4 | 49 | 45 | 10 | 104 | 26.0 |
| 122 | California | 4 | 54 | 42 | 9 | 105 | 26.3 |
| 123 | Oregon | 4 | 47 | 44 | 15 | 106 | 26.5 |
| 123 | New Mexico State | 4 | 51 | 46 | 9 | 106 | 26.5 |
| 125 | Hawaii | 4 | 56 | 45 | 6 | 107 | 26.8 |
| 126 | Louisiana-Monroe | 3 | 43 | 31 | 8 | 82 | 27.3 |
| 127 | Texas State | 3 | 40 | 35 | 8 | 83 | 27.7 |
| 128 | Akron | 4 | 39 | 61 | 13 | 113 | 28.3 |