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No. 11 Mississippi hosts No. 3 Alabama in big test

By WTOP Staff

DAVID BRANDT
AP Sports Writer

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi has aspirations of competing for Southeastern Conference titles.

If the Rebels are serious, than these are the games they have to find a way to win.

No. 11 Ole Miss (4-0, 1-0) hosts No. 3 Alabama (4-0, 1-0) on Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in its biggest home game in more than a decade. Third-year Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said his program’s focus must shift from not just simply competing against programs like the Tide, but winning.

“I know our kids feel that way, and our coaches feel that way,” Freeze said. “I don’t know that we will. I have no idea what the scoreboard will say at the end, but I expect our kids to go and compete and have fun and do a good job.”

Ole Miss has the SEC’s top defense so far this season, giving up just 8.5 points per game. Alabama will counter with an offense that’s putting up nearly 600 total yards per game.

Alabama has won 10 in a row in the series and has had an extra week of preparation and rest after beating Florida 42-21 on Sept. 20.

Ole Miss is relatively new to these high-stakes situations. The Tide and coach Nick Saban know all about them.

Alabama has a 26-9 record against Top 25 teams since 2008, but was just 3-2 last season.

Saban disregarded all of those numbers, saying this year’s team had little to do with any from the past since college rosters change so much from year to year.

“We’re talking about this team. We’re talking about our team,” Saban said. “We’re still trying to develop an identity relative to the players that we have on this team, the leadership that we have on this team. You’re always trying to develop the team chemistry and maturity that it takes to play well on the road. We really haven’t played a road game yet, other than playing a neutral-site game. So it’s going to be interesting to see how we respond.”

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Here are some things to watch during Saturday’s SEC West showdown:

ALABAMA’S POWERFUL OFFENSE: Alabama has been terrific on offense so far this season, with quarterback Blake Sims and receiver Amari Cooper putting up huge numbers. Sims threw for 445 yards and four touchdowns in a victory against Florida on Sept. 20 and Cooper already has 43 catches this season for 655 yards. And don’t forget about the Tide’s three-man backfield that includes T.J. Yeldon, Kenyan Drake and Derrick Henry.

MISSISSIPPI COUNTERS WITH DEFENSE: Ole Miss statistically has the best defense in the SEC so far this season, giving up just 8.5 points per game. The Rebels have given up just two touchdowns all season, which leads the nation. It’s a group that has talented young players like sophomore defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche and seasoned veterans like All-American safety Cody Prewitt.

DEAL WITH THE HYPE: Alabama plays in this type of atmosphere on nearly a weekly basis, but Ole Miss will be experiencing a new level of scrutiny. ESPN’s College Gameday is in Oxford for the first time in school history and all eyes will be on the Rebels during CBS’s showcase game in the middle of the day. Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze believes his team will be able to handle it, but no one knows until Saturday comes.

GOOD OR BAD BO: There’s little doubt the Ole Miss offense revolves around quarterback Bo Wallace. The 6-foot-4 senior has been terrific at times this season, throwing for 1,271 yards and 11 touchdowns so far this season while completing 71 percent of his passes. He’s also thrown six interceptions and struggled last week against Memphis, with two of those interceptions and a lost fumble.

OCTOBERFEST: Alabama is hitting arguably the hardest part of its schedule over the next month, with four of five games away from home starting on Saturday against the Rebels. If history is any indication, it’s coming at a good time. The program has a 21-1 record in October dating back to 2008.

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AP Sports Writer John Zenor in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, contributed to this story.

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Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP

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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