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Rejuvenated Arkansas ready for road-tested Huskies

By WTOP Staff

KURT VOIGT
AP Sports Writer

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Brandon Allen was the Arkansas quarterback during arguably its worst season in school history a year ago.

With that bit of perspective, the junior is enjoying the Razorbacks turnaround this season.

Arkansas (2-1) has done its best to put a school-worst 10-game losing streak behind it, outscoring Nicholls State and Texas Tech by a combined 122-35 in dominating wins.

The optimism surrounding the Razorbacks after last week’s 49-28 win over the Red Raiders has reached its highest point since a Cotton Bowl win over Kansas State to end the 2011 season — a win that capped a 21-5 stretch over two years.

“I think we’re all enjoying the feeling of winning again, and we’re not ready for that feeling to go away any time soon,” Allen said. “So, we plan on continuing this thing we’ve got going, this roll we’ve got going, and carrying it into this week.”

Carrying the recent bit of success forward is not a given for Arkansas, particularly against a Northern Illinois team that travels to Fayetteville with a 17-game road winning streak.

The Huskies (3-0) are no strangers to top competition from the biggest conferences in the country, having played against Florida State in the Orange Bowl following the 2012 season — and nearly reaching a second straight BCS bowl game last year.

Northern Illinois’ road winning streak includes three wins over Big 10 Conference teams, including a 23-15 win over Northwestern two weeks ago, though coach Rod Carey is wary of an Arkansas running game that leads the Southeastern Conference with an average of 362 yards per game.

The Razorbacks entered this weekend’s games with two of the top three rushers in the SEC, led by sophomore Alex Collins’ 411 rushing yards and five touchdowns through three games. Also, junior Jonathan Williams is averaging 9.8 yards per carry with six touchdowns, and sophomore Korliss Marshall is expected to see increased action on Saturday.

“They’re big, they’re physical, they’re strong, they’re quick, they can jump, they’re one-footed cutters …” Carey said. “All three of them, it’s the best group in the country.”

Other factors to watch as Arkansas tries to continue its recent success against the road-tested Huskies:

LINE OF ATTACK: While the Razorbacks running game has received much of the publicity during the team’s reversal of fortunes, it’s Arkansas’ offensive line that’s made the biggest improvement in its second season under coach Bret Bielema. Led by 6-foot-10, 326-pound left tackle Dan Skipper, the Razorbacks ran the ball 68 times for 438 yards in last week’s win over Texas Tech. Northern Illinois has faced tough competition while winning 49 games over the last four seasons, but Arkansas’ offensive line might be the most physical.

QUARTERBACK SHUFFLE: The Huskies lost their primary offensive threat after last season following the departure of Heisman Trophy finalist Jordan Lynch. This season, a trio of quarterbacks have played for Northern Illinois, though sophomore Drew Hare played the entirety of last week’s 48-34 win over UNLV. Carey said while Hare is the starter, sophomore Anthony Maddie could also see action on Saturday.

RUNNING CHALLENGE: While Arkansas is second in the country in rushing offense, the Huskies aren’t far behind — ranking seventh nationally with an average of 325.3 yards per game. The Razorbacks allowed 302 yards rushing in a season-opening loss at No. 5 Auburn, and Northern Illinois’ crowded backfield of Akeem Daniels, Joel Bouagnon, Hare and Cameron Stingily figures to provide their most difficult test since.

DEFENSIVE RAZORBACKS: Arkansas played its best defensive game in recent memory in last week’s win over Texas Tech, holding the up-tempo Red Raiders to 353 total yards. Senior linebacker Martrell Spaight had one of the Razorbacks two interceptions in the win, and the secondary also had a host of other pass breakups — an attacking style they hope to continue on Saturday.

PASSING FANCY: Allen hasn’t had much cause to throw the ball recently for Arkansas, attempting only 17 passes over the last two games. However, the junior has made the most of his opportunities this season — completing 28 of 48 passes (58.3 percent) with six touchdowns and one interception. Despite the lack of passing, Bielema said he expects the Razorback to throw more against the Huskies, calling the passing game “the best-kept secret in Fayetteville.”

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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