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B10 teams represented in 4 of 8 neutral-site games

By WTOP Staff

ERIC OLSON
AP College Football Writer

Four of the eight neutral-site games the first week of the college football season involve Big Ten teams.

Though not all the sites are truly neutral, all the games will generate the exposure every coach craves for recruiting. Like bowl games, the openers also will produce lifelong memories for the players and varying financial rewards for the schools.

No team will travel farther than Penn State, which plays UCF on Saturday in Dublin, Ireland, in James Franklin’s first game as coach. Also on Saturday, No. 14 Wisconsin meets No. 13 LSU in Houston and No. 5 Ohio State takes on Navy in Baltimore.

Rutgers plays its first game as a Big Ten member against Washington State in Seattle on Thursday.

UCF won at Penn State and was supposed to host this year’s game before agreeing to move it to Dublin. Franklin said he sees no disadvantage to going overseas because both teams must contend with the time-zone change and other challenges that go with traveling abroad.

“We spent a lot of time preparing our guys on what to expect and what the trip is going to be like so we can get over there and stay focused on what we have to do, which is play good football,” Franklin said Tuesday on the Big Ten coaches’ conference call with reporters. “Whether that was played at State College High School or played in Dublin, Ireland, we’re excited about the opportunity to play Central Florida.”

Penn State and UCF declined to disclose how much money the schools will receive. The game’s organizer, the Gaelic Athletic Association, didn’t respond to an email.

Wisconsin will earn $2 million for playing LSU at NRG Stadium in Houston. The Badgers will get another $3 million in 2016 when they play LSU at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Next year Wisconsin will make $4 million for playing Alabama in Arlington, Texas.

“It gets us on the national stage,” Badgers coach Gary Andersen said of this week’s game. “We’re playing an SEC team and, quite frankly, we’re playing, traditionally the last few years, one of the best teams in the country, so kids like that when they’re recruited.”

The game is a measuring stick for a Wisconsin team that has questions at quarterback and receiver and must rebuild its defense.

“Some may say that’s not a great time to have the game,” Andersen said. “But if you’re going to play a game like this, in the environment of college football today, the first game of the year is the one to do it.”

Ohio State, which beat Navy in Columbus in 2009, will be closing out a two-game series with the Midshipmen. The Buckeyes will earn $850,000 for playing the game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, which is about a 45-minute drive from Navy’s campus in Annapolis.

Whether the game is in Annapolis or Baltimore, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer likes the recruiting implications.

“It’s a big recruiting area. A lot of great football players. A lot of history between Ohio State and those players,” Meyer said. “Really in the last two years we’ve done well out there, so it’s exciting, and hopefully we get a lot of exposure. We have to do well, though.”

Rutgers plays its first game as a Big Ten member against Washington State at Seattle’s CenturyLink Field, which is less than five hours from the WSU campus in Pullman.

“I think it’s exciting for our players,” Knights coach Kyle Flood said. “I think they enjoy the experience of playing in a pro stadium, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s the reigning Super Bowl champions.”

Rutgers, which hosts the Cougars in Piscataway, New Jersey, next year, will earn $300,000 for Thursday’s game. Only 26,000 tickets have been sold. Flood said a good number of Rutgers fans plan to make the cross-country trip.

“But don’t think we’re going to have enough travel to make it a (true) neutral-site game,” he said.

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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