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Unbeatens to get tested in Pac-12

By WTOP Staff

JOHN MARSHALL
AP College Football Writer

PHOENIX (AP) — The FBS is down to 17 unbeaten teams, a number that will be reduced by at least four this week after match-ups between undefeated teams.

Three of the four games are expected to be close: Oklahoma-TCU, Alabama-Ole Miss and Mississippi State-Texas A&M all have spreads of six points or less.

One game between unbeatens is being projected as a rout and it’s in the Pac-12 on Thursday night.

That’s when Arizona heads to Eugene to face No. 2 Oregon. Both are 4-0

According to the Glantz-Culver line, the Wildcats are 23-point underdogs.

The Ducks know better.

A year ago, Arizona quashed Oregon’s national-title hopes by routing the Ducks in Tucson. Two weeks ago, the Wildcats spoiled California’s big night with a 36-point quarter capped by Anu Solomon’s Hail Mary pass to Austin Hill on the final play.

That spread, means absolutely nothing to Oregon.

“They’re 4-0 and have a great offense and just came off a great comeback win,” Oregon cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu said. “So they’re going to have a lot of confidence and they know what they’re capable of doing.”

The conference’s other undefeated team, No. 8 UCLA, faces a tough challenge if it wants to remain unbeaten, playing Utah Saturday at home.

The Bruins (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12) crushed Arizona State on the road last week in Tempe, finally living up to the preseason hype surrounding them after three average wins to start the season.

But UCLA still has some work to do on defense and are facing an offense led by Travis Wilson that’s balanced and physical.

“They’ve got a physical offensive line, they’ve got really good running back and at the same time, they’ve got a quarterback that when he gets hot, he gets hot and he’s got some good receivers to throw to,” UCLA offensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said. “For a defense that’s as hungry as ours is right now and as eager as these guys are to show the world who they are and what they want to become, it’s a great challenge for us.”

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MIKE LEACH AND THE END OF THE WORLD

Washington State coach Mike Leach has always had a unique, if not quirky perspective on things, whether it’s his fascination with pirates or writing a book on leadership based on research he did about Geronimo.

This week, Leach predicted how the world will end and, as expected, it’s pure gold.

“I’m not really that good with technology. All this button-pushing and whatnot. I mean, you can just imagine based on what’s happened in the last 15 years. Conversations won’t happen 10 years from now. There aren’t going to be people to talk to, it’s going to be like this (mimics pushing buttons) ‘Do you want to go on a date with me? I don’t know, what do you look like? Well, I kind of look like this. OK, what are your interests? Well, what do you think my interests are? Looking into this thing and typing into this just like yours are. ‘Yeah, no kidding, that’s what everybody’s doing. Well, where do you want to go? Well, what difference does that make?’

“Because all we’re going to be doing is looking into machines anyways. Well, that’s true and in the end, it’s going to be tough to perpetuate the species. There’s no question about that. So we’re all going to look into this box and eventually be extinct. That’s how it ends.”

Yes, it does.

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NOTES AROUND THE PAC-12

USC running back Tre Madden started participating in individual drills this week after missing the first four games with turf toe, but said the digit is still pretty sore, leaving his status for Saturday’s game against Arizona State still up in the air. … Washington coach Chris Petersen doesn’t sound like he’s quite ready to switch quarterbacks after sophomore Cyler Miles struggled against Stanford — 98 yards on 15-for-29 passing against Stanford — saying he needs to be coached better and given more time in the pocket to complete plays. … Arizona State was solid on defense through its first three games before its youth was exposed in last weekend’s blowout loss to UCLA. The Sun Devils struggled with tackling in that game and have been giving up big plays all season, allowing a play of 40 yards or more 10 times. That side of the ball, obviously, will be a point of emphasis for the Sun Devils’ coaches heading into Saturday’s game against USC.

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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