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A measuring stick game for MSU, Big Ten, in Oregon

By WTOP Staff

JON KRAWCZYNSKI
AP Sports Writer

Some things to watch in the Big Ten during Week 2 of the season:

GAME OF THE WEEK: No. 7 Michigan State at No. 3 Oregon, Saturday. The Spartans are coming off a Rose Bowl victory, but in some ways a win in raucous Autzen Stadium in Week 2 of this season may grab even more attention. The high-flying Ducks have speed for days and will test the Spartans’ stingy defense like no other opponent they face this season. Last year, Michigan state was second in the nation in total defense and third in scoring defense. Oregon was second in total offense and fourth in scoring offense.

BEST MATCHUP: Michigan at Notre Dame, one more time. Two of college football’s winningest programs will end their long-running series after this meeting, with no renewal in sight. The Wolverines and Fighting Irish will play for the 42nd time, but Notre Dame’s new scheduling agreement with the ACC prompted it to ask out of the series. Michigan might be unranked and Notre Dame at No. 16, but the history involved will make this game a must-watch.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Nebraska racked up 784 yards of offense against Florida Atlantic in the season opener, the most by a Big Ten school in a game since Minnesota had 832 way back in 1905. … Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon’s first 13 carries against LSU went for 139 yards and a touchdown. But he had just three carries for 1 yard over the final 29 minutes of the game as LSU rallied for the win. Gordon later said he had a hip injury. … In an opening week that included plenty of overmatched opponents, Big Ten schools went 12-2 while averaging 37.5 points and 468.1 yards per game. … $21 million: Amount of money Land O’ Lakes donated this week to help Minnesota’s sports facilities project, which includes a new facility for the football program.

LONG SHOT: Ball State at Iowa, Saturday. The Cardinals are 17-point underdogs to the Hawkeyes, but Iowa was less than impressive in an opening week win over Northern Iowa. Ball State has won 17 of its last 19 games, including 10 a year ago when they set a school record for points in a season. Running backs Horactio Banks and Jahwan Edwards will test Iowa’s defense. Iowa had five sacks and two interceptions last week. The last time these teams met, Iowa rolled 45-0 in 2010, long before Ball State’s renaissance.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Michigan State QB Connor Cook. Offense grabs headlines everywhere these days, except East Lansing. The Spartans defense gets all the attention, but Cook has quietly emerged as a dependable playmaker. He threw for 304 yards against Ohio State in the Big Ten title game, then went for 332 in the win over Stanford in the Rose Bowl. Cook was almost perfect in the season-opener against Jacksonville State, completing 12 of 13 passes for 285 yards and three TDs. Now he will be going toe-to-toe with Oregon Heisman favorite Marcus Mariota.

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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