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Pick 6: Mich St-Ore among top nonconference games

By WTOP Staff

ERIC OLSON
AP College Football Writer

Sure, it’s the first year of the College Football Playoff, and much of the talk at the start of the season is about which four teams will be playing at the end.

But there are plenty of important games on the schedule before the leaves turn colors that could play a role in helping the selection committee decide which teams go to the national semifinals.

Here are the best early nonconference games:

MICHIGAN STATE at OREGON, Sept. 6: These opposites, no doubt, will attract a lot of eyeballs. Heisman Trophy hopeful Marcus Mariota is back to lead an Oregon offense that rolled up better than 45 points and 560 yards a game last season against a Michigan State defense that held opponents to 13 points and 250 yards. The Ducks’ defense will be tested by Connor Cook, who elevated himself to elite status by passing for more than 300 yards against both Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game and Stanford in the Rose Bowl.

WISCONSIN vs. LSU, at Houston, Aug. 30: Both are traditionally strong teams in their conferences, and both have lots of questions. The Badgers need to find a quarterback, and they have to replace six of their front seven on defense. They won’t see a faster opponent before bowl season. LSU sustained huge losses at the skilled positions. Even though the Tigers have rattled off back-to-back 10-win seasons and beat SEC champ Auburn by two TDs last year, there’s some uneasiness in Baton Rouge. A win here could help LSU regain its mojo.

UCLA at TEXAS, at Arlington, Texas, Sept. 13: Everything is trending up in Westwood. Coach Jim Mora already has 19 wins, most ever in the first two years by a UCLA coach, and he brings back one of the country’s most dangerous QBs in Brett Hundley. First-year coach Charlie Strong is trying to keep Texas fans’ expectations in check, but the Longhorns might be pretty good. Yes, they have issues at QB, but the defense could keep them in a lot of games. This will be a springboard for the winner.

MIAMI at NEBRASKA, Sept. 20: For all those times Tom Osborne lamented the home-field advantage Miami held in those Orange Bowl meetings of the 1980s and ’90s, the Hurricanes go to Lincoln for the first time since 1976. These teams played five games between 1984 and 2002, and four decided national championships. This meeting is important for two programs looking to re-establish themselves in the national hierarchy, but it also will appeal to fans’ sense of nostalgia.

CLEMSON at GEORGIA, Aug. 30: These teams have a history of playing down-to-the-wire games against each other. With both teams breaking in new QBs, don’t expect it to be as high scoring. The key matchup is Georgia’s electrifying running back, Todd Gurley, against a Tigers’ defensive front that might be the nation’s best. No matter the outcome, it’s great preparation for Georgia’s SEC opener against South Carolina on Sept. 13 and Clemson’s ACC opener against defending national champ Florida State on Sept. 20.

MICHIGAN at NOTRE DAME, Sept. 6: The series between two of the hallowed names in college football will go on hiatus after this season. The Wolverines upset the Irish last year, but they lost six of their last eight, and coach Brady Hoke is in dire need of a turnaround. New offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier will be calling the plays for returning QB Devin Gardner. For Notre Dame, QB Everett Golson is back after being suspended for the 2013 fall semester for academic impropriety. He led the Irish to the national championship game the year before.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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