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Spartans host Huskers in crucial Big Ten matchup

By WTOP Staff

NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer

After all the big, era-defining victories Michigan State earned last season, a November win at Nebraska is often overlooked.

Spartans coach Mark Dantonio remembers, though.

“We looked at it as a program win, because we needed to go to a place like Nebraska where we didn’t have a lot of fans in the stands and they had a ton and be able to play and play well, and that was accomplished,” said Dantonio, whose team went on to win the Big Ten title and Rose Bowl.

Michigan State’s 41-28 victory at Nebraska last year was the Spartans’ last major hurdle en route to the Legends Division title. The Big Ten realigned after that, and the teams are in different divisions now, but a lot will still be on the line Saturday night when the 10th-ranked Spartans host the 19th-ranked Cornhuskers.

Michigan State (3-1) has rebounded from its loss at Oregon and still holds hopes of reaching college football’s new four-team playoff. The Big Ten has taken some criticism for its early-season performance, so if the Spartans are going to impress the nation, this matchup with one of the league’s other ranked teams is important.

Nebraska (5-0, 1-0) didn’t look great while struggling against McNeese State a few weeks ago, but the Cornhuskers beat Miami and routed Illinois.

A win this weekend would give Nebraska its first 6-0 start since 2001.

“Historically it doesn’t really mean that much to me. This is about this team and what we’re trying to accomplish,” coach Bo Pelini said. “Obviously it’s extremely important, but every game we play is going to be. I’m not going to make any more of it than what it is.”

The Huskers haven’t beaten a top 10 opponent on the road since Washington in 1997.

Here are a few things to watch when Michigan opens its Big Ten title defense against Nebraska:

RUNNING WILD: Behind star RB Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska is ranked second in the nation in rushing offense. Michigan State is fourth in rushing defense. In last year’s matchup, Abdullah ran for 123 yards.

SHOOTOUT?: Last season, Michigan State showed it could win a big game without a dominant performance from its defense. Jeremy Langford ran for 151 yards and three touchdowns to offset a solid offensive performance by Nebraska.

“We’ve had some success, but they’ve had some success, too. I mean it’s all about who executes on any given day,” Pelini said. “They’re very well coached. I don’t worry a lot about what’s happened in the past or anything like that. It’s about what’s going to happen Saturday night and how two football teams are going to play that Saturday night.”

QB MATCHUP: Michigan State’s Connor Cook has become one of the Big Ten’s top passers, but Nebraska’s Tommy Armstrong has cut down on his interception rate — a crucial factor in allowing his team’s productive running game to flourish. Armstrong doesn’t expect the Spartans to make any major adjustments before this one.

“Honestly I think they’re going to run what they’ve been running all season,” Armstrong said. “It worked for them last year. They won the Big Ten by just playing their basic defense. They don’t change for anybody.”

FULL STRENGTH: Nebraska DE Randy Gregory has 4 1/2 sacks over the last two games after being slowed earlier by a knee injury. He is also occasionally used as a blitzing linebacker.

TRICKY: One of the key plays of last year’s victory over Nebraska was a fake field goal that Michigan State holder Mike Sadler turned into a first down. Dantonio has been willing to try a few tricks in big games in the past, and the Cornhuskers will need to be alert, especially on special teams.

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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