Skip to main content

Big 12 unbeatens: No. 4 Oklahoma at No. 25 TCU

By WTOP Staff

STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — TCU coach Gary Patterson can’t forget the big plays, the ones against his team in those close Big 12 losses to Oklahoma.

There were long touchdown runs by the Sooners in both games they won by a combined 10 points. There was a 76-yarder in the fourth quarter last season, and a 66-yarder two years ago at Fort Worth in a Big 12 title-clinching victory when they also got a 24-yard TD pass on third-and-23 just before halftime right after TCU had tied the score.

“Obviously, you still remember those,” Patterson said.

It’s now their third matchup as conference foes, with the No. 25 Horned Frogs (3-0) the last to play their Big 12 opener when they host the No. 4 Sooners (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) in a game that will take away one of the league’s remaining undefeated teams. No. 7 Baylor (4-0, 1-0), the only other Big 12 team without a loss, plays at Texas at the same time Saturday.

Oklahoma is coming off an open date after winning its league opener at West Virginia. The Sooners have won eight consecutive games, the second-longest active FBS streak behind No. 1 Florida State’s 20 in a row, but coach Bob Stoops certainly isn’t overlooking TCU.

“They’re just very sound in the way they defend you. They crowd you. The secondary always crowds receivers,” Stoops said. “As far as run defense, they just do a really good job of gap control and understanding really the discipline of where they need to be depending on what runs you’re putting out there. They just do a good job of playing disciplined defense.”

To go along with a dominating defense that has allowed only 219 yards and seven points a game, dual-threat quarterback Trevone Boykin and the Horned Frogs’ new up-tempo offense are doing pretty good, too. Their 44.7 points and 532 total yards a game are right on par with Oklahoma’s 44.8 points and 495 yards.

TCU has already had two open dates this season, but is playing on the second of eight consecutive Saturdays.

“Most people get better between their first and their third game. I think we have an opportunity to get better between our fourth and sixth (games),” Patterson said. “By not playing as many games, I think one of the things is we’re not mentally tired right now. … We’re just starting to wake up.”

Oklahoma won seven of the 11 non-conference matchups in the series that dates back to 1944. Here are a few things to watch when the Sooners play the Horned Frogs for the 14th time overall:

STARTING UNDEFEATED: QB Trevor Knight is 9-0 as the Oklahoma starter. In those starts, Knight has completed nearly 59 percent of his passes with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions while averaging 12.4 yards per completion.

THROWING AND RUNNING: TCU QB Trevone Boykin is one of nine players national who leads his team in both passing yards and rushing. He is third in the Big 12 with 347 total yards per game and has been consistent with per-game totals of 349, 350 and 342 yards. He had thrown for at least 250 yards per game, and is averaging 6.3 yards per rushing attempt.

RANKED AGAIN: TCU this week moved into the AP Top 25 poll for the first time this season. Patterson said while being ranked means something for the players and is recognition for their hard work, he has been “telling them don’t worry about any of that stuff, you play well enough, people notice.” The Frogs had last been ranked in the first three polls of the 2013 season.

DFW 2-STEP: Oklahoma, which is going more than a month between games on its Norman campus, is playing the first of two consecutive Saturdays in the Dallas-Fort Worth, a prime recruiting area for the Sooners. After TCU, the Sooners have their annual Red River Rivalry game against Texas next week at the State Fair of Texas. “It’s positive,” Stoops said. “We do consider Dallas as part of home base. … It’s a strong area for us. It always has been, and hopefully always will be.”

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 Stories

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