2017 National Leaders Opponent First Downs - Games Lost Only through 01/08/2018
| Name | G | Rush | Pass | Penalty | Total | Total/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi State | 4 | 32 | 23 | 4 | 59 | 14.8 |
| 2 | Troy | 2 | 10 | 19 | 2 | 31 | 15.5 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | 1 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 16.0 |
| 4 | Michigan | 5 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 82 | 16.4 |
| 5 | Notre Dame | 3 | 27 | 17 | 8 | 52 | 17.3 |
| 6 | Central Michigan | 5 | 42 | 35 | 10 | 87 | 17.4 |
| 7 | Florida | 7 | 62 | 49 | 12 | 123 | 17.6 |
| 8 | Auburn | 4 | 32 | 35 | 5 | 72 | 18.0 |
| 8 | LSU | 4 | 37 | 30 | 5 | 72 | 18.0 |
| 8 | UTSA | 5 | 42 | 44 | 4 | 90 | 18.0 |
| 11 | Air Force | 7 | 81 | 37 | 11 | 129 | 18.4 |
| 12 | NC State | 4 | 31 | 34 | 9 | 74 | 18.5 |
| 12 | Boston College | 6 | 61 | 48 | 2 | 111 | 18.5 |
| 14 | Navy | 6 | 46 | 57 | 10 | 113 | 18.8 |
| 15 | Washington State | 4 | 39 | 34 | 3 | 76 | 19.0 |
| 15 | Western Michigan | 6 | 55 | 51 | 8 | 114 | 19.0 |
| 17 | Southern Miss | 5 | 38 | 46 | 12 | 96 | 19.2 |
| 18 | Ohio | 4 | 27 | 45 | 5 | 77 | 19.3 |
| 18 | Eastern Michigan | 7 | 62 | 59 | 14 | 135 | 19.3 |
| 18 | Minnesota | 7 | 79 | 49 | 7 | 135 | 19.3 |
| 18 | New Mexico | 9 | 61 | 101 | 12 | 174 | 19.3 |
| 22 | Northern Illinois | 5 | 39 | 51 | 7 | 97 | 19.4 |
| 23 | Virginia Tech | 4 | 37 | 34 | 7 | 78 | 19.5 |
| 24 | Georgia State | 5 | 42 | 51 | 5 | 98 | 19.6 |
| 24 | Wyoming | 5 | 54 | 38 | 6 | 98 | 19.6 |
| 26 | USC | 3 | 30 | 24 | 5 | 59 | 19.7 |
| 27 | Florida State | 6 | 58 | 47 | 14 | 119 | 19.8 |
| 27 | Ball State | 10 | 82 | 103 | 13 | 198 | 19.8 |
| 29 | Miami (OH) | 7 | 59 | 58 | 22 | 139 | 19.9 |
| 30 | TCU | 3 | 20 | 33 | 7 | 60 | 20.0 |
| 30 | Appalachian State | 4 | 33 | 39 | 8 | 80 | 20.0 |
| 30 | Western Kentucky | 7 | 66 | 66 | 8 | 140 | 20.0 |
| 33 | San Diego State | 3 | 47 | 11 | 3 | 61 | 20.3 |
| 33 | Texas | 6 | 48 | 65 | 9 | 122 | 20.3 |
| 33 | Temple | 6 | 64 | 43 | 15 | 122 | 20.3 |
| 33 | Georgia Southern | 10 | 90 | 93 | 20 | 203 | 20.3 |
| 33 | Kent State | 10 | 96 | 81 | 26 | 203 | 20.3 |
| 38 | Virginia | 7 | 79 | 55 | 9 | 143 | 20.4 |
| 39 | Duke | 6 | 66 | 43 | 14 | 123 | 20.5 |
| 40 | Miami (FL) | 3 | 24 | 34 | 4 | 62 | 20.7 |
| 41 | Indiana | 7 | 68 | 59 | 19 | 146 | 20.9 |
| 41 | Massachusetts | 8 | 82 | 73 | 12 | 167 | 20.9 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | 2 | 14 | 22 | 6 | 42 | 21.0 |
| 43 | Washington | 3 | 22 | 38 | 3 | 63 | 21.0 |
| 43 | Arkansas State | 5 | 32 | 62 | 11 | 105 | 21.0 |
| 46 | Tulane | 7 | 71 | 72 | 5 | 148 | 21.1 |
| 46 | Idaho | 8 | 85 | 76 | 8 | 169 | 21.1 |
| 48 | Marshall | 5 | 41 | 56 | 9 | 106 | 21.2 |
| 48 | Iowa State | 5 | 44 | 57 | 5 | 106 | 21.2 |
| 48 | Utah | 6 | 50 | 67 | 10 | 127 | 21.2 |
| 51 | Boise State | 3 | 16 | 48 | 0 | 64 | 21.3 |
| 51 | West Virginia | 6 | 64 | 56 | 8 | 128 | 21.3 |
| 51 | Pittsburgh | 7 | 63 | 78 | 8 | 149 | 21.3 |
| 54 | Iowa | 5 | 45 | 53 | 9 | 107 | 21.4 |
| 55 | Middle Tennessee State | 6 | 63 | 56 | 10 | 129 | 21.5 |
| 56 | Kansas State | 5 | 34 | 72 | 2 | 108 | 21.6 |
| 57 | Purdue | 6 | 41 | 76 | 13 | 130 | 21.7 |
| 58 | Missouri | 6 | 59 | 61 | 11 | 131 | 21.8 |
| 58 | Georgia Tech | 6 | 66 | 60 | 5 | 131 | 21.8 |
| 58 | Rutgers | 8 | 74 | 91 | 9 | 174 | 21.8 |
| 58 | BYU | 9 | 96 | 90 | 10 | 196 | 21.8 |
| 62 | Clemson | 2 | 20 | 17 | 7 | 44 | 22.0 |
| 62 | Texas State | 10 | 80 | 131 | 9 | 220 | 22.0 |
| 64 | Hawaii | 9 | 95 | 93 | 13 | 201 | 22.3 |
| 65 | Georgia | 2 | 24 | 16 | 5 | 45 | 22.5 |
| 65 | Fresno State | 4 | 36 | 46 | 8 | 90 | 22.5 |
| 65 | Buffalo | 6 | 74 | 54 | 7 | 135 | 22.5 |
| 68 | Baylor | 11 | 116 | 119 | 14 | 249 | 22.6 |
| 69 | Rice | 11 | 118 | 121 | 11 | 250 | 22.7 |
| 70 | Houston | 5 | 44 | 61 | 9 | 114 | 22.8 |
| 70 | Oregon | 6 | 51 | 71 | 15 | 137 | 22.8 |
| 72 | Kansas | 11 | 101 | 133 | 18 | 252 | 22.9 |
| 73 | Arizona | 6 | 63 | 65 | 10 | 138 | 23.0 |
| 73 | Tennessee | 8 | 105 | 68 | 11 | 184 | 23.0 |
| 75 | Coastal Carolina | 9 | 93 | 97 | 18 | 208 | 23.1 |
| 76 | UAB | 5 | 53 | 50 | 13 | 116 | 23.2 |
| 76 | North Carolina | 9 | 103 | 88 | 18 | 209 | 23.2 |
| 78 | Northwestern | 3 | 27 | 37 | 6 | 70 | 23.3 |
| 78 | Army | 3 | 35 | 30 | 5 | 70 | 23.3 |
| 78 | South Carolina | 4 | 44 | 43 | 6 | 93 | 23.3 |
| 78 | South Alabama | 8 | 68 | 106 | 12 | 186 | 23.3 |
| 78 | Syracuse | 8 | 92 | 85 | 9 | 186 | 23.3 |
| 83 | Stanford | 5 | 47 | 65 | 5 | 117 | 23.4 |
| 83 | California | 7 | 78 | 77 | 9 | 164 | 23.4 |
| 83 | Arkansas | 8 | 104 | 73 | 10 | 187 | 23.4 |
| 83 | Illinois | 10 | 123 | 93 | 18 | 234 | 23.4 |
| 87 | Arizona State | 6 | 60 | 72 | 9 | 141 | 23.5 |
| 87 | Colorado State | 6 | 75 | 57 | 9 | 141 | 23.5 |
| 87 | Louisiana Tech | 6 | 75 | 61 | 5 | 141 | 23.5 |
| 87 | Maryland | 8 | 97 | 73 | 18 | 188 | 23.5 |
| 91 | Utah State | 7 | 73 | 76 | 16 | 165 | 23.6 |
| 92 | UTEP | 12 | 148 | 117 | 20 | 285 | 23.8 |
| 93 | USF | 2 | 21 | 22 | 5 | 48 | 24.0 |
| 93 | Texas A&M | 6 | 55 | 77 | 12 | 144 | 24.0 |
| 93 | Charlotte | 11 | 123 | 128 | 13 | 264 | 24.0 |
| 96 | UCLA | 7 | 89 | 57 | 23 | 169 | 24.1 |
| 96 | Tulsa | 10 | 120 | 99 | 22 | 241 | 24.1 |
| 98 | Wake Forest | 5 | 63 | 52 | 6 | 121 | 24.2 |
| 99 | Toledo | 3 | 44 | 23 | 6 | 73 | 24.3 |
| 99 | Colorado | 7 | 89 | 71 | 10 | 170 | 24.3 |
| 101 | New Mexico State | 6 | 62 | 70 | 15 | 147 | 24.5 |
| 101 | Ole Miss | 6 | 69 | 61 | 17 | 147 | 24.5 |
| 101 | Kentucky | 6 | 78 | 58 | 11 | 147 | 24.5 |
| 101 | Cincinnati | 8 | 84 | 91 | 21 | 196 | 24.5 |
| 105 | Michigan State | 3 | 24 | 40 | 10 | 74 | 24.7 |
| 106 | FIU | 5 | 49 | 58 | 17 | 124 | 24.8 |
| 106 | Louisville | 5 | 64 | 57 | 3 | 124 | 24.8 |
| 108 | Alabama | 1 | 8 | 15 | 2 | 25 | 25.0 |
| 108 | Nebraska | 8 | 108 | 74 | 18 | 200 | 25.0 |
| 110 | Ohio State | 2 | 14 | 30 | 7 | 51 | 25.5 |
| 111 | North Texas | 5 | 51 | 64 | 13 | 128 | 25.6 |
| 111 | Texas Tech | 7 | 63 | 92 | 24 | 179 | 25.6 |
| 111 | Vanderbilt | 7 | 101 | 63 | 15 | 179 | 25.6 |
| 111 | UNLV | 7 | 105 | 66 | 8 | 179 | 25.6 |
| 111 | Louisiana-Monroe | 8 | 97 | 100 | 8 | 205 | 25.6 |
| 111 | East Carolina | 9 | 113 | 101 | 16 | 230 | 25.6 |
| 111 | Bowling Green | 10 | 128 | 111 | 17 | 256 | 25.6 |
| 118 | SMU | 6 | 78 | 64 | 12 | 154 | 25.7 |
| 118 | San Jose State | 11 | 152 | 117 | 14 | 283 | 25.7 |
| 120 | Old Dominion | 7 | 89 | 80 | 12 | 181 | 25.9 |
| 120 | Connecticut | 9 | 94 | 126 | 13 | 233 | 25.9 |
| 122 | Penn State | 2 | 14 | 31 | 7 | 52 | 26.0 |
| 122 | Nevada | 9 | 104 | 111 | 19 | 234 | 26.0 |
| 122 | Oregon State | 11 | 138 | 118 | 30 | 286 | 26.0 |
| 125 | Oklahoma State | 3 | 34 | 38 | 8 | 80 | 26.7 |
| 125 | Florida Atlantic | 3 | 47 | 28 | 5 | 80 | 26.7 |
| 125 | Akron | 7 | 80 | 91 | 16 | 187 | 26.7 |
| 128 | Memphis | 3 | 30 | 43 | 8 | 81 | 27.0 |
| 129 | Louisiana | 7 | 105 | 79 | 13 | 197 | 28.1 |