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College Football Today

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

STARS

–Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin, rushed for career highs of 253 yards and five touchdowns, and the 19th-ranked Badgers ran for a Big Ten-record 644 yards to trample Bowling Green 68-17.

–Blake Sims, Alabama, threw for 445 yards, the second-best passing performance in school history, helping the third-ranked Crimson Tide overcome a sloppy performance to beat Florida 42-21.

–Samaje Perine, Oklahoma, rushed for 242 yards and four TDs to lead the No. 4 Sooners to a 45-33 win over West Virginia in their Big 12 opener.

–Dak Prescott, Mississippi State, highlighted a dynamic performance with two touchdown passes and 56-yard scoring run in a 34-29 victory over No.8 LSU that snapped the Bulldogs’ 14-year losing streak in the series.

–Dylan Thompson, South Carolina, threw for 237 yards and three TDs, and ran for another score as the No. 14 Gamecocks rallied from 14 points down to beat Vanderbilt 48-34.

–Sony Michel, Georgia, ran for 155 yards and three TDs to lead the No. 13 Bulldogs to a 66-0 win over Troy.

–Shane Carden, East Carolina, threw for 438 yards and four TDs to help the Pirates beat North Carolina 70-41.

–David Cobb, Minnesota, ran for 207 yards and two TDs as the Gophers defeated San Jose State 24-7.

–Kenny Hill, Texas A&M, accounted for 322 yards of offense in the first half helping the sixth-ranked Aggies roll to a 58-6 victory over SMU.

–Michael Eubank, Samford, scored four of his team’s eight rushing TDs and passed for another score in a 63-21 win over Virginia Military Institute.

–John Robertson, Villanova, threw for 337 yards and four TDs as the Wildcats rallied to beat James Madison 49-31.

–Nelson Spruce, Colorado, caught a school-record 13 passes for a career-best 172 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown in the Buffaloes’ 21-12 win over scrappy Hawaii.

–Tank Jake, Memphis, had a sack for a safety, forced a fumble that resulted in a touchdown, and had an interception in helping lead the Tigers to a 36-17 victory over Middle Tennessee.

–Mike Nebrich, Fordham, threw for 435 yards and matched a career best with four TDs in a 49-7 win over Columbia.

–Keith Williams, San Diego, passed for 277 yards and four TDs in a 39-29 defeat of Princeton.

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TIDE ROLLS GATORS

Neither Florida’s defense nor Alabama’s mistakes could contain Blake Sims and Amari Cooper.

Sims threw for 445 yards, the second-best passing performance in school history, and Cooper scored three touchdowns as the third-ranked Crimson Tide overcame a sloppy performance to beat the Gators 42-21.

The Tide (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) committed 11 penalties for 80 yards and four turnovers that turned into 21 points for the Gators (2-1, 1-1), who still couldn’t handle Sims and the prolific passing connection.

Sims threw touchdown passes of 87 yards to Kenyan Drake on the opening play and 79 to Cooper later in the first quarter.

The Tide’s turnovers and miscues kept the game close into the fourth quarter. Alabama’s 645 total yards were the most the Gators have allowed, breaking the previous high of Nebraska’s 629 yards in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl.

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NUMBERS

99_Years since a Penn State coach opened his inaugural season 4-0 before James Franklin did it this year. Dick Harlow was the last in 1915.

202_Career SEC wins by South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, breaking a tie with Vince Dooley and putting him second only to Paul “Bear” Bryant’s 292.

322_Career rushing attempts by Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon before his first fumble.

789_Total yards by East Carolina in its 70-41 win over North Carolina to set a school record. It also was the most ever allowed by the Tar Heels.

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BADGERS’ BIG DAY

After Melvin Gordon fumbled on his first carry, teammate Corey Clement gave him a fist bump on the sideline and told his fellow Wisconsin running back to shake off the mistake.

It turned out to be the start of record-setting day for the 19th-ranked Badgers.

Gordon rushed for career highs of 253 yards and five touchdowns, and Wisconsin ran for a Big Ten-record 644 yards to trample Bowling Green in a 68-17 victory.

Gordon had 179 yards and four scores by halftime alone before dashing for a 69-yard touchdown on his first carry of the second half. He silenced any doubters worried about his 38-yard outing the previous game.

“I was motivated. I heard a lot of people doubting me saying ‘I can’t do this, I can’t do that,'” he said. “That definitely motivated me to get out there and do what I needed to do.”

The junior tailback brushed aside a question about whether he’s back in the discussion for the Heisman Trophy.

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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