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Miller’s injury sting Big Ten’s playoff hopes

By WTOP Staff

RALPH D. RUSSO
AP College Football Writer

This is bigger than the Buckeyes.

Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller is done for the season because of a shoulder injury. The senior needs surgery to repair of torn labrum.

It’s a crushing blow on a few levels:

— Miller is one of the best and most entertaining players in the country. He ran for 1,068 yards, passed for 2,094 and accounted for 36 touchdowns. He was a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender. In the statement released by Ohio State making the news official, he said he wants to return to Columbus for another season.

“I am on course to graduate in December and I want to attend graduate school, and then return to lead the Buckeyes next season. In the meantime, I want to give all the support I can to my coaches and teammates as they chase a championship this season,” he said.

It’s a nice sentiment, but after two surgeries on his shoulder in less than a year Miller’s future as a quarterback at any level is in doubt. And that’s unfortunate.

— For No. 5 Ohio State, a season that had championship hopes — both Big Ten and national — will now begin with a very different feel. The Buckeyes are still conference contenders, though it could be argued they have now ceded the role of Big Ten favorites to Michigan State. Maybe.

Urban Meyer and his staff recruit better than any program in the Big Ten. No roster in the conference has more talent. Of course, it didn’t help the Buckeyes win the Big Ten last season.

Miller’s injury makes the Buckeyes’ prospects more uncertain. His presumptive replacement is redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett, a former four-star recruit. Ohio State was already entering the season with a rebuilt offensive line, looking for a No. 1 tailback to emerge, and trying to fix a defense that melted down late last season. And even with all that, a Big Ten championship doesn’t seem out of reach.

The national championship? That’s a very different story, and not just for the Buckeyes, but the whole Big Ten.

— At least one of the Big Five conferences has to be left out of the College Football Playoff’s final four. The Buckeyes were the conference’s best bet to get through the regular season unbeaten. Now that’s much tougher. A weakened Ohio State also has a trickledown effect to the rest of the conference. Beating the Buckeyes becomes less impressive.

The Big Ten needs a dominant team to emerge from a conference that has been a cut below the Southeastern Conference and Pac-12 in recent years. Maybe No. 8 Michigan State is that team. A victory at No. 3 Oregon would certainly go a long way toward boosting the Spartans’ and the Big Ten’s credentials.

With Miller gone, the Big Ten could be in a serious bind if the Spartans don’t come through in Eugene on Sept. 6.

___

Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP

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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