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No. 4 Oklahoma faces TCU coming off bye

By WTOP Staff

MURRAY EVANS
Associated Press

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — TCU long has been more than a mere annoyance to Oklahoma.

TCU won in shocking fashion in Norman in 2005, one of only two home losses to nonconference foes the Sooners have suffered during coach Bob Stoops’ 16 seasons at Oklahoma. Last season, the visiting Horned Frogs pushed Oklahoma to the limit before the Sooners won 20-17.

A year earlier, in the first Big 12 Conference meeting between the teams, a fourth-down TCU pass fell incomplete at the goal line, allowing visiting Oklahoma to escape with a 24-17 win. So when No. 4 Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) plays at No. 25 TCU (3-0, 0-0) on Saturday, a close, hard-fought game would seem to be a probability.

On Monday, Stoops allowed that TCU “probably” was the best team the Sooners have played so far this season.

“West Virginia, I thought, was awfully good, too,” Stoops said, mentioning the squad the Sooners beat 45-33 in their Big 12 opener. “But TCU looks really, really good and has played really, really well to this point.”

The Horned Frogs’ calling card under longtime coach Gary Patterson has been their defense and they lead the Big 12 so far this season, allowing an average of 218.7 yards per game. Through the years, TCU’s defensive schemes have proven a challenge for Stoops and his staff to overcome. Asked why, Stoops kept coming back to the same word, using a version of “fundamental” four times.

“They’re sound fundamentally, really disciplined and they know what they’re doing,” Stoops said, noting how Patterson has “a set system . that their players get trained in at a young age. They’re really fundamental in how they do it.”

TCU struggled at times offensively last season, but veteran quarterback Trevone Boykin has looked impressive in 2014 running a system that Oklahoma defensive tackle Chuka Ndulue and Stoops compared to the high-tempo offense used by Texas Tech.

“We’ve got to be ready for the tempo and him throwing the ball about 80 times a game or something like that,” Ndulue said.

TCU is third in the Big 12 in total offense at 532 yards per game and are coming off a 56-0 romp over SMU.

“The biggest difference offensively you see them spreading the ball out now,” Stoops said. “Boykin is throwing the ball well and running it. They’re using a bunch of players. You see them spread out and they’re making you defend the whole field, which that offense does, and defend the whole field and every player. They’ve done a really good job to this point being highly productive offensively.”

Oklahoma will enter the game off a bye week, the first of three this season for the Sooners. Cornerback Zack Sanchez – working on a streak of five straight games with an interception – said his banged-up shoulder feels considerably better after the time off, but Stoops said it’s likely running back Keith Ford will miss a second straight game as he heals from a slight fracture of his right fibula, suffered in a win over Tennessee on Sept. 13.

Ford’s absence could mean another star turn for freshman running back Samaje Perine, who rumbled for 242 yards in the win at West Virginia. Stoops wouldn’t say if Perine – who leads the Big 12 in rushing – earned more playing time with that performance.

“Every game is a little bit different,” Stoops said. “We’ll see how it goes. You get into the game, certain plays or certain players and what you’re doing is working (so) you go to it more. We’ll wait and see.”

Oklahoma is second in the league in scoring offense (44.8 points per game) and TCU is third (44.7), but Sanchez said he expects another defensive slugfest on Saturday.

“They always play us tough,” Sanchez said. “The past two years, they always find a way to play us tough. It’s always a defensive battle. We’ve kind of got to outdo their defense. Those guys want to do the same to us. It’s a defensive battle. We’ve just got to play our game and I think we’ll be all right.”

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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