2018 Big Ten Conference Leaders First Downs - Games vs. Ranked Teams Only (AP Poll) through 01/07/2019
| Name | G | Rush | Pass | Penalty | Total | Total/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State | 4 | 30 | 65 | 7 | 102 | 25.5 |
| 2 | Michigan State | 5 | 23 | 58 | 12 | 93 | 18.6 |
| 3 | Michigan | 5 | 43 | 51 | 10 | 104 | 20.8 |
| 4 | Indiana | 4 | 35 | 49 | 13 | 97 | 24.3 |
| 5 | Nebraska | 4 | 40 | 41 | 6 | 87 | 21.8 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 4 | 29 | 40 | 8 | 77 | 19.3 |
| 7 | Northwestern | 4 | 28 | 36 | 7 | 71 | 17.8 |
| 8 | Purdue | 3 | 27 | 34 | 7 | 68 | 22.7 |
| 9 | Penn State | 4 | 31 | 33 | 5 | 69 | 17.3 |
| 10 | Maryland | 5 | 32 | 29 | 9 | 70 | 14.0 |
| 11 | Illinois | 3 | 29 | 28 | 4 | 61 | 20.3 |
| 12 | Iowa | 2 | 11 | 25 | 3 | 39 | 19.5 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | 4 | 36 | 22 | 1 | 59 | 14.8 |
| 14 | Rutgers | 4 | 31 | 10 | 9 | 50 | 12.5 |