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Plenty of points possible for Okla St-Texas Tech

By WTOP Staff

CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Big points and yardage totals are the norm whenever Oklahoma State and Texas Tech get together.

That has especially been the case for Oklahoma State, which has averaged 59 points against the Red Raiders the past three years. The Cowboys beat Tech 66-6 in 2011, 59-21 in 2012 and 52-34 last year.

Tech has been impressive, too. The Red Raiders gained 718 yards in a 49-45 loss in 2007, then beat the Cowboys 56-20 in 2008.

This season seemed ideal for the Red Raiders (2-1) to reverse their fortunes in the series because Oklahoma State was expected to be in rebuilding mode. Instead, the 24th-ranked Cowboys (2-1) started the season by nearly knocking off Florida State, and have won two straight entering Thursday’s home game with the Red Raiders.

“They’re really good,” Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury said. “I think people thought they would drop off. They lost a bunch of good players last year. But these young players have stepped up, they haven’t skipped a beat.”

Tech might be capable of keeping up with the Cowboys this time around. Davis Webb already has passed for nearly 1,000 yards in three games this season, and he has a big-time target in Jakeem Grant.

“They’ve got probably the best vertical passing threat that we’ve seen all year, so anytime that’s out there, there’s a possibility of getting a big play,” Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer said. “It only takes one. They could throw it out there five times, and if the sixth time’s a big play, then it’s well worth it.”

Here are a few things to watch for in this Big 12 rivalry.

TECH RUN DEFENSE: Texas Tech surrendered 438 yards rushing against Arkansas in its last game on Sept. 13. If the Cowboys’ offensive line is up for it, they certainly have the backs to do damage. Tyreek Hill, Rennie Childs and Desmond Roland all have shown themselves capable. One of Tech’s co-defensive coordinators, Matt Wallerstedt, resigned last week. Mike Smith, who was the other co-defensive coordinator, now has the role to himself.

“He didn’t ask to be put in this situation, it’s a situation that occurred,” Kingsbury said. “We all have to rally with the situation we have, what’s going on. He knows that. Just be positive, give the players a chance to be successful.”

THRILLING HILL? Hill has been effective when he gets the ball, but he has just 23 rushes, nine receptions and 14 returns. That’s about 15 touches per game. The Cowboys have said they wanted to get him the ball often, but they haven’t so far. He still averages 144 all-purpose yards per game.

“We need him to touch the ball,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said. “He’ll touch the ball more in some games than others, but we’d like for him to be getting it at least 20 times a game.”

GARMAN’S MOMENT: Oklahoma State quarterback Daxx Garman has looked good so far in place of the injured J.W. Walsh, but that’s in part because his two games with significant action came against Missouri State and Texas-San Antonio. He hasn’t played in a prime-time, nationally televised Big 12 game.

WEBB’S CONSISTENCY: Webb is throwing it all over the field, but he also has tossed four interceptions this season. Though he moves the ball, he has contributed to the Red Raiders losing the turnover battle in 11 consecutive games. Kingsbury stressed ball security when he spoke with the media earlier this week.

FINISHING THE JOB: Oklahoma State has scored on every trip to the red zone this season, but the Cowboys aren’t necessarily getting touchdowns. Kicker Ben Grogan has made 8 of 11 field goals. Though Grogan is tied for the Big 12 lead in scoring with 12 points per game, Gundy would prefer to see him kick more often for fewer points.

___

Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP .

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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