2021 Big Ten Conference Leaders First Downs - Games vs. Ranked Teams Only (AP Poll) through 01/10/2022
| Name | G | Rush | Pass | Penalty | Total | Total/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State | 4 | 30 | 84 | 5 | 119 | 29.8 |
| 2 | Purdue | 4 | 13 | 80 | 7 | 100 | 25.0 |
| 3 | Penn State | 5 | 33 | 63 | 5 | 101 | 20.2 |
| 4 | Nebraska | 5 | 37 | 55 | 7 | 99 | 19.8 |
| 5 | Maryland | 4 | 32 | 43 | 5 | 80 | 20.0 |
| 6 | Michigan | 4 | 39 | 41 | 8 | 88 | 22.0 |
| 7 | Rutgers | 4 | 31 | 36 | 8 | 75 | 18.8 |
| 8 | Michigan State | 3 | 19 | 35 | 3 | 57 | 19.0 |
| 9 | Indiana | 5 | 34 | 33 | 8 | 75 | 15.0 |
| 10 | Northwestern | 3 | 20 | 27 | 3 | 50 | 16.7 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | 3 | 17 | 24 | 3 | 44 | 14.7 |
| 12 | Iowa | 2 | 8 | 22 | 5 | 35 | 17.5 |
| 13 | Minnesota | 2 | 23 | 20 | 4 | 47 | 23.5 |
| 14 | Illinois | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 11.0 |