Skip to main content

No. 3 Oregon ready to host No. 7 Michigan State

By WTOP Staff

ANNE M. PETERSON
AP Sports Writer

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Oregon is known for its nimble spread offense, while Michigan State is known for its stout 4-3 defense.

But it’s not as simple as offense versus defense between the No. 3 Ducks and the No. 7 Spartans, who meet Saturday in Eugene. Both teams have become known as innovators on opposite sides of the ball.

For Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, there’s truth in the old cliche: Defense wins championships. It certainly worked last season when the Big Ten-champion Spartans beat Stanford 24-20 in the Rose Bowl.

“There’s not a lot of people who have played our defense in the past. I think people are moving toward it and doing some of the things that we’ve done, and we’ve had tremendous success with our defense in the last three, four, really the last four years,” he said. “That trend needs to continue for us to be successful. It’s my belief you win championships with great defenses.”

The Spartans, who beat Jacksonville State 45-7 in their opener, had the second-ranked total defense in the nation last year, allowing opponents an average of just over 252 yards per game.

Oregon has been perfecting its no-huddle spread since former coach Chip Kelly began tinkering with it in 2007 as offensive coordinator. The Ducks have found the perfect leader in dual-threat quarterback Marcus Mariota, who is as adept on his feet as he is with his arm.

Mariota threw for three touchdowns and ran for another in Oregon’s season-opening 62-13 victory over South Dakota.

“You look at Oregon, certainly you see what they’ve done offensively, and they are different from other spread teams. I think they’ve had so much success, a lot of people are taking some of the things and imitating them or not copying but using their concepts and trying to adapt it into their offenses,” Dantonio said.

Last season the Ducks lost to the one team in the Pac-12 that most resembles the Spartans, Stanford. The Spartans can certainly take inspiration Saturday from their victory over the Cardinal in Pasadena.

Here are some other things to watch for Saturday when the Spartans visit the Ducks:

HISTORY: The home team has won in each of the four previous meetings between Oregon and Michigan State, evening the series at 2-2. The Spartans won the most recent game 27-20 in 1999 in East Lansing. Oregon won the 1998 season opener 48-14 on Akili Smith’s four first-half touchdown passes.

MARIOTA MATTERS: The junior Heisman hopeful has thrown at least one touchdown in each of the 27 games he’s played at Oregon. He has passed for 66 total touchdowns, rushed for 15 and caught one for the most career TDs in school history. Mariota needs one more touchdown pass to surpass Darron Thomas for the top spot on Oregon’s career list.

COOK’S LEAD: Although much is made about the Spartans’ defense, quarterback Connor Cook solidified his role as the starter last season and got off to a fast start this year against Jacksonville State, throwing for 285 yards and three touchdowns before sitting in the second half.

THREE-HEADED MONSTER: Junior Byron Marshall led a trio of Oregon running backs that accounted for 412 yards of total offense and four touchdowns in the opener against South Dakota. Marshall revealed a hybrid role, leading the team with eight catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Oregon at times played all three, with Marshall at slot, and sophomore Thomas Tyner and freshman Royce Freeman at running back.

FORTELLING THE FUTURE? Saturday’s game is the first nonconference matchup at Autzen Stadium to feature two teams ranked in the top 10, and the outcome will likely determine an early favorite for the new four-team playoff at the end of the season. Said Mariota: “This is exciting, this is why you come to school here: You come to play in these types of games. This is what college football is all about.”

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 News

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