2017 American Athletic Conference Leaders Rushing Defense - On 3rd Down through 01/08/2018
| Name | G | Att | Yards | Avg. | TD | Long | 1st | 10+ | 20+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Navy | 13 | 72 | 148 | 2.06 | 5 | 42 | 26 | 7 | 2 |
| 2 | South Florida | 12 | 64 | 95 | 1.48 | 3 | 20 | 21 | 8 | 1 |
| 2 | East Carolina | 12 | 75 | 288 | 3.84 | 3 | 19 | 34 | 8 | 0 |
| 4 | Houston | 12 | 89 | 194 | 2.18 | 2 | 21 | 35 | 9 | 1 |
| 4 | Cincinnati | 12 | 76 | 266 | 3.50 | 2 | 22 | 35 | 9 | 2 |
| 6 | Tulsa | 12 | 77 | 235 | 3.05 | 3 | 27 | 29 | 10 | 1 |
| 7 | SMU | 13 | 83 | 307 | 3.70 | 6 | 44 | 36 | 13 | 2 |
| 7 | Connecticut | 12 | 69 | 349 | 5.06 | 2 | 65 | 32 | 13 | 3 |
| 7 | UCF | 13 | 81 | 354 | 4.37 | 2 | 36 | 32 | 13 | 4 |
| 10 | Temple | 13 | 85 | 370 | 4.35 | 3 | 47 | 29 | 15 | 5 |
| 11 | Tulane | 12 | 68 | 369 | 5.43 | 3 | 54 | 31 | 17 | 4 |
| 12 | Memphis | 13 | 91 | 385 | 4.23 | 3 | 29 | 45 | 18 | 3 |
| 1st: First Downs; 10+: Rush attempts of 10 or more yards; 20+: Rush attempts of 20 or more yards | ||||||||||