2021 National Leaders First Downs - Games in August/September Only through 01/10/2022
| Name | G | Rush | Pass | Penalty | Total | Total/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ole Miss | 3 | 54 | 40 | 8 | 102 | 34.0 |
| 2 | UCF | 3 | 43 | 42 | 5 | 90 | 30.0 |
| 3 | Pittsburgh | 4 | 43 | 67 | 9 | 119 | 29.8 |
| 4 | SMU | 4 | 49 | 54 | 5 | 108 | 27.0 |
| 5 | Virginia | 5 | 34 | 89 | 11 | 134 | 26.8 |
| 5 | Appalachian State | 4 | 49 | 48 | 10 | 107 | 26.8 |
| 7 | Coastal Carolina | 4 | 55 | 45 | 6 | 106 | 26.5 |
| 8 | Marshall | 4 | 44 | 58 | 3 | 105 | 26.3 |
| 9 | Florida | 4 | 54 | 44 | 6 | 104 | 26.0 |
| 10 | Maryland | 4 | 47 | 54 | 2 | 103 | 25.8 |
| 10 | USC | 4 | 36 | 53 | 14 | 103 | 25.8 |
| 12 | TCU | 3 | 31 | 37 | 9 | 77 | 25.7 |
| 13 | Fresno State | 5 | 40 | 80 | 8 | 128 | 25.6 |
| 14 | Central Michigan | 4 | 44 | 50 | 7 | 101 | 25.3 |
| 15 | Duke | 4 | 46 | 50 | 4 | 100 | 25.0 |
| 16 | Baylor | 4 | 61 | 37 | 1 | 99 | 24.8 |
| 16 | Ohio State | 4 | 45 | 52 | 2 | 99 | 24.8 |
| 16 | North Carolina | 4 | 44 | 45 | 10 | 99 | 24.8 |
| 16 | Missouri | 4 | 31 | 60 | 8 | 99 | 24.8 |
| 16 | NC State | 4 | 29 | 57 | 13 | 99 | 24.8 |
| 21 | Oregon State | 4 | 50 | 41 | 6 | 97 | 24.3 |
| 22 | Miami (FL) | 5 | 49 | 56 | 16 | 121 | 24.2 |
| 23 | Arizona State | 4 | 48 | 39 | 8 | 95 | 23.8 |
| 23 | Tennessee | 4 | 48 | 35 | 12 | 95 | 23.8 |
| 23 | North Texas | 4 | 46 | 36 | 13 | 95 | 23.8 |
| 23 | Arkansas State | 4 | 23 | 61 | 11 | 95 | 23.8 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | 3 | 35 | 29 | 7 | 71 | 23.7 |
| 27 | Western Kentucky | 3 | 17 | 51 | 3 | 71 | 23.7 |
| 29 | Kent State | 4 | 53 | 30 | 11 | 94 | 23.5 |
| 29 | Auburn | 4 | 44 | 45 | 5 | 94 | 23.5 |
| 29 | Tulane | 4 | 39 | 45 | 10 | 94 | 23.5 |
| 29 | UTSA | 4 | 35 | 52 | 7 | 94 | 23.5 |
| 29 | Wake Forest | 4 | 35 | 46 | 13 | 94 | 23.5 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | 4 | 33 | 55 | 6 | 94 | 23.5 |
| 35 | Louisiana | 4 | 34 | 53 | 6 | 93 | 23.3 |
| 36 | Nebraska | 5 | 53 | 57 | 6 | 116 | 23.2 |
| 37 | Texas | 4 | 50 | 37 | 5 | 92 | 23.0 |
| 37 | Liberty | 4 | 45 | 39 | 8 | 92 | 23.0 |
| 37 | Kentucky | 4 | 43 | 41 | 8 | 92 | 23.0 |
| 37 | Florida Atlantic | 4 | 39 | 45 | 8 | 92 | 23.0 |
| 37 | Utah State | 4 | 38 | 50 | 4 | 92 | 23.0 |
| 37 | Georgia | 4 | 38 | 46 | 8 | 92 | 23.0 |
| 37 | Iowa State | 4 | 33 | 51 | 8 | 92 | 23.0 |
| 37 | Alabama | 4 | 31 | 52 | 9 | 92 | 23.0 |
| 37 | Mississippi State | 4 | 22 | 67 | 3 | 92 | 23.0 |
| 46 | Old Dominion | 4 | 48 | 34 | 9 | 91 | 22.8 |
| 46 | Charlotte | 4 | 39 | 46 | 6 | 91 | 22.8 |
| 46 | Oregon | 4 | 39 | 41 | 11 | 91 | 22.8 |
| 49 | Eastern Michigan | 4 | 39 | 39 | 11 | 89 | 22.3 |
| 49 | Purdue | 4 | 25 | 62 | 2 | 89 | 22.3 |
| 51 | Tulsa | 4 | 33 | 47 | 8 | 88 | 22.0 |
| 51 | Washington | 4 | 24 | 54 | 10 | 88 | 22.0 |
| 53 | Western Michigan | 4 | 32 | 45 | 10 | 87 | 21.8 |
| 54 | Cincinnati | 3 | 28 | 29 | 8 | 65 | 21.7 |
| 55 | Arkansas | 4 | 54 | 27 | 5 | 86 | 21.5 |
| 55 | Boston College | 4 | 49 | 32 | 5 | 86 | 21.5 |
| 55 | Buffalo | 4 | 43 | 34 | 9 | 86 | 21.5 |
| 55 | Indiana | 4 | 34 | 45 | 7 | 86 | 21.5 |
| 55 | Arizona | 4 | 34 | 43 | 9 | 86 | 21.5 |
| 60 | Air Force | 4 | 68 | 13 | 4 | 85 | 21.3 |
| 60 | Michigan | 4 | 56 | 23 | 6 | 85 | 21.3 |
| 60 | Louisville | 4 | 29 | 51 | 5 | 85 | 21.3 |
| 60 | Penn State | 4 | 28 | 51 | 6 | 85 | 21.3 |
| 64 | New Mexico State | 5 | 33 | 56 | 16 | 105 | 21.0 |
| 64 | Army | 4 | 72 | 10 | 2 | 84 | 21.0 |
| 64 | Michigan State | 4 | 43 | 35 | 6 | 84 | 21.0 |
| 64 | Georgia Tech | 4 | 42 | 36 | 6 | 84 | 21.0 |
| 64 | Texas State | 4 | 39 | 39 | 6 | 84 | 21.0 |
| 64 | California | 4 | 35 | 41 | 8 | 84 | 21.0 |
| 64 | Memphis | 4 | 34 | 41 | 9 | 84 | 21.0 |
| 64 | Washington State | 4 | 30 | 47 | 7 | 84 | 21.0 |
| 64 | Utah | 4 | 30 | 42 | 12 | 84 | 21.0 |
| 73 | Hawaii | 5 | 37 | 59 | 8 | 104 | 20.8 |
| 73 | BYU | 4 | 45 | 32 | 6 | 83 | 20.8 |
| 73 | West Virginia | 4 | 32 | 46 | 5 | 83 | 20.8 |
| 73 | Houston | 4 | 27 | 47 | 9 | 83 | 20.8 |
| 73 | Louisiana Tech | 4 | 23 | 50 | 10 | 83 | 20.8 |
| 78 | Northwestern | 4 | 49 | 29 | 4 | 82 | 20.5 |
| 78 | Rutgers | 4 | 48 | 30 | 4 | 82 | 20.5 |
| 78 | Wyoming | 4 | 45 | 33 | 4 | 82 | 20.5 |
| 78 | Boise State | 4 | 28 | 46 | 8 | 82 | 20.5 |
| 82 | Syracuse | 4 | 44 | 30 | 7 | 81 | 20.3 |
| 82 | Virginia Tech | 4 | 38 | 36 | 7 | 81 | 20.3 |
| 84 | UCLA | 4 | 44 | 35 | 1 | 80 | 20.0 |
| 84 | Texas A&M | 4 | 34 | 42 | 4 | 80 | 20.0 |
| 86 | Florida State | 4 | 35 | 35 | 9 | 79 | 19.8 |
| 86 | Rice | 4 | 31 | 36 | 12 | 79 | 19.8 |
| 86 | Akron | 4 | 27 | 45 | 7 | 79 | 19.8 |
| 86 | LSU | 4 | 22 | 52 | 5 | 79 | 19.8 |
| 90 | Nevada | 3 | 17 | 40 | 2 | 59 | 19.7 |
| 91 | Illinois | 5 | 39 | 47 | 12 | 98 | 19.6 |
| 92 | Northern Illinois | 4 | 39 | 34 | 5 | 78 | 19.5 |
| 92 | Colorado State | 4 | 29 | 47 | 2 | 78 | 19.5 |
| 94 | Minnesota | 4 | 43 | 28 | 6 | 77 | 19.3 |
| 94 | Texas Tech | 4 | 31 | 40 | 6 | 77 | 19.3 |
| 94 | Miami (OH) | 4 | 28 | 40 | 9 | 77 | 19.3 |
| 94 | Notre Dame | 4 | 17 | 49 | 11 | 77 | 19.3 |
| 98 | Georgia Southern | 4 | 44 | 27 | 5 | 76 | 19.0 |
| 98 | USF | 4 | 38 | 31 | 7 | 76 | 19.0 |
| 98 | Troy | 4 | 21 | 48 | 7 | 76 | 19.0 |
| 101 | UTEP | 4 | 31 | 33 | 11 | 75 | 18.8 |
| 101 | Oklahoma State | 4 | 29 | 39 | 7 | 75 | 18.8 |
| 101 | Ball State | 4 | 29 | 36 | 10 | 75 | 18.8 |
| 101 | Middle Tennessee State | 4 | 24 | 47 | 4 | 75 | 18.8 |
| 105 | South Alabama | 3 | 21 | 29 | 6 | 56 | 18.7 |
| 106 | San Diego State | 4 | 47 | 19 | 8 | 74 | 18.5 |
| 106 | Massachusetts | 4 | 27 | 37 | 10 | 74 | 18.5 |
| 108 | Kansas State | 4 | 43 | 26 | 4 | 73 | 18.3 |
| 108 | East Carolina | 4 | 22 | 44 | 7 | 73 | 18.3 |
| 110 | UAB | 4 | 31 | 34 | 7 | 72 | 18.0 |
| 110 | Vanderbilt | 4 | 25 | 37 | 10 | 72 | 18.0 |
| 112 | New Mexico | 4 | 31 | 35 | 5 | 71 | 17.8 |
| 112 | FIU | 4 | 23 | 42 | 6 | 71 | 17.8 |
| 114 | Georgia State | 4 | 41 | 26 | 3 | 70 | 17.5 |
| 114 | Clemson | 4 | 29 | 30 | 11 | 70 | 17.5 |
| 116 | Ohio | 4 | 28 | 33 | 7 | 68 | 17.0 |
| 117 | Toledo | 4 | 28 | 32 | 7 | 67 | 16.8 |
| 118 | Southern Miss | 4 | 32 | 26 | 8 | 66 | 16.5 |
| 118 | Temple | 4 | 27 | 32 | 7 | 66 | 16.5 |
| 120 | South Carolina | 4 | 30 | 29 | 5 | 64 | 16.0 |
| 120 | San Jose State | 4 | 17 | 42 | 5 | 64 | 16.0 |
| 122 | Stanford | 4 | 16 | 37 | 10 | 63 | 15.8 |
| 123 | Iowa | 4 | 23 | 34 | 5 | 62 | 15.5 |
| 124 | Navy | 3 | 34 | 9 | 3 | 46 | 15.3 |
| 125 | Colorado | 4 | 38 | 15 | 7 | 60 | 15.0 |
| 126 | Louisiana-Monroe | 3 | 16 | 19 | 9 | 44 | 14.7 |
| 127 | Kansas | 4 | 26 | 27 | 4 | 57 | 14.3 |
| 128 | Bowling Green | 4 | 15 | 34 | 6 | 55 | 13.8 |
| 129 | UNLV | 4 | 28 | 21 | 4 | 53 | 13.3 |
| 130 | Connecticut | 5 | 28 | 25 | 13 | 66 | 13.2 |