Skip to main content

No. 7 Baylor right where it needs to be _ for now

By WTOP Staff

STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer

Baylor easily got through its nonconference schedule with three lopsided victories in 13 days before taking a break.

Even though none of those games were against an opponent from the other Power Five leagues, seventh-ranked and defending Big 12 champion Baylor did what it had to do. Now as long as they keep winning now that they are going in conference play, the Bears should be well-positioned for college football’s new four-team playoff.

“I’ve just felt all along that if you come unscathed out of the Big 12, you’re going to be in the final four,” Bears coach Art Briles said. “That’s been our thought process all along. … We line up and go play.”

Baylor is the only Big 12 team that will not play an opponent from the ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12 or SEC during the regular season.

But the Bears go into their Big 12 opener Saturday night at Iowa State (1-2, 0-1) leading the nation in scoring (59.3 points a game) and total offense (654 yards), just how they ended last season.

They have outscored their opponents 178-27, with at least one touchdown in all 12 quarters even with reigning Big 12 offensive player of the year Bryce Petty missing half of those because of two small cracked bones in his back. They opened their new stadium with a 45-0 win over SMU on a Sunday night, were there the next Saturday against FCS team Northwestern State, and then went to Buffalo for a Friday night game Sept. 12.

“We’re right where we felt like we needed to be,” Briles said. “We had three games in 13 days and knew that was going to be kind of a tough chore without question as far as preparation and then keeping our guys fresh. … We managed to do all that. We went 3-0, we got a week off, now we’ve got a four-game stretch before we have another open date, so it’s fallen good for us.”

The College Football Playoff’s selection committee won’t compile the first of its weekly rankings for another month. But based on current polls, including Baylor being sixth in the Amway coaches’ poll, the Bears should be right in the middle of the playoff mix — as long as they keep winning.

Three of the six teams ranked ahead of Baylor in this week’s AP Top 25 are SEC West teams Alabama, Auburn and Texas A&M — they all still have to face each other, plus play three other division opponents currently 17th or better.

Defending national champion and No. 1 Florida State and No. 2 Oregon have both had close calls already this season.

The Big 12’s other three Top 25 teams — No. 4 Oklahoma, No. 24 Oklahoma State and No. 25 Kansas State — are in Baylor’s last four regular-season games. The Bears play Nov. 8 at Oklahoma in their last true road game before home games against the Cowboys and Wildcats sandwiching a matchup against Texas Tech in Arlington, Texas.

For now, the focus is on Iowa State, a team they beat 71-7 at home, but lost to in their last two trips to Ames, Iowa.

“It’s always a tough place to play,” said Petty, who returned against Buffalo to throw for 416 yards and four touchdowns in three quarters. “I remember what that was like two years ago, so we are ready go back up there and do what we know we can do.”

And what they have to do to be playoff contenders.

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote