2026 Big Ten Conference Leaders Total Defense - Games in August/September Only through 09/19/2026
| Name | G | Rush Yards | Pass Yards | Plays | Total Yards | Yards/Play | Yards/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern | 2 | 327 | 453 | 150 | 780 | 5.20 | 390.0 |
| 2 | Michigan State | 3 | 339 | 548 | 160 | 887 | 5.54 | 295.7 |
| 3 | Iowa | 3 | 198 | 332 | 166 | 530 | 3.19 | 176.7 |
| 4 | Nebraska | 3 | 323 | 354 | 168 | 677 | 4.03 | 225.7 |
| 5 | Minnesota | 3 | 351 | 459 | 171 | 810 | 4.74 | 270.0 |
| 6 | Penn State | 3 | 333 | 270 | 172 | 603 | 3.51 | 201.0 |
| 7 | Indiana | 3 | 231 | 379 | 175 | 610 | 3.49 | 203.3 |
| 8 | Michigan | 3 | 289 | 371 | 176 | 660 | 3.75 | 220.0 |
| 9 | Maryland | 3 | 208 | 545 | 177 | 753 | 4.25 | 251.0 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 3 | 327 | 541 | 183 | 868 | 4.74 | 289.3 |
| 11 | Oregon | 3 | 332 | 599 | 185 | 931 | 5.03 | 310.3 |
| 12 | Rutgers | 3 | 534 | 726 | 187 | 1260 | 6.74 | 420.0 |
| 13 | Washington | 3 | 317 | 511 | 189 | 828 | 4.38 | 276.0 |
| 14 | Ohio State | 3 | 257 | 378 | 193 | 635 | 3.29 | 211.7 |
| 15 | Purdue | 3 | 621 | 719 | 194 | 1340 | 6.91 | 446.7 |
| 16 | UCLA | 3 | 326 | 761 | 202 | 1087 | 5.38 | 362.3 |
| 17 | Illinois | 3 | 393 | 653 | 205 | 1046 | 5.10 | 348.7 |
| 18 | USC | 4 | 455 | 815 | 221 | 1270 | 5.75 | 317.5 |