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After Alabama, No. 3 Mississippi awaits No. 14 A&M

By WTOP Staff

KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — No. 3 Mississippi didn’t spend long celebrating its big win over Alabama.

Not with No. 14 Texas A&M up next, a team the Rebels have never beaten and a school that has sent them to close losses the last two seasons on their home field.

Mississippi coach Hugh Freeze isn’t concerned about a letdown.

“I think they’ll continue to be hungry and want to compete,” he said. “That’s really not a big worry of mine because of the schedule we face. There are really good teams in this conference that can beat you at any given moment. We’ve got to play a very good football game to win every game that’s left on our schedule in this deal.”

The Aggies are coming off their first loss of the season, a 48-31 defeat by Mississippi State, and are looking to get back on track in their first home game in almost a month.

“Our guys are anxious to get back on the field and prove who they are,” coach Kevin Sumlin said.

Quarterback Bo Wallace knows it will be a challenge to deal with a crowd expected to top 100,000, but thinks that playing other tough road games will help make things easier Saturday.

“We’ve had guys that have played at ‘Bama and at LSU,” Wallace said. “We’ll be prepared for that … this is what it’s all about. We’re right in the thick of things in the SEC West. Going on the road to a hostile environment is why you go to school here.”

The Rebels are 0-6 against A&M. They’re 0-2 since A&M joined the SEC after losing 30-27 in 2012 and 41-38 last season.

“They were difficult for sure,” Freeze said of those losses. “Our kids bounced back nicely, probably better than the coaches, but they were difficult.”

Wallace said those defeats still sting.

“You definitely remember that,” he said. “We’re a different team. We’re a different offense and defense. We’ll get to work on them and hopefully come out and play well.”

Things to know about the Mississippi-Texas A&M game:

HILL’S SETBACK: Texas A&M quarterback Kenny Hill had thrown just two interceptions through the first five games, but threw three on Saturday in Texas A&M’s first loss this season.

“I need to be smarter with the football,” Hill said.

He’s been solid in his first season after taking over for Johnny Manziel and leads the SEC with 2,110 yards passing and has helped the Aggies score 38 touchdowns, which are the most in the FBS.

OLE MISS’ DOMINANT DEFENSE: The Rebels’ defense is giving up just 10.2 points per game, which ranks first in the Southeastern Conference. Ole Miss has allowed only four touchdowns all season, which is tops in the nation. Senquez Golson leads the team with four interceptions and the Rebels are aggressive up front — 17 different players have at least one tackle for a loss.

FABULOUS FRESHMEN: Texas A&M freshman receiver Speedy Noil and defensive end Myles Garrett are off to great starts this season. Garrett is second in the SEC and has set the school record for sacks by a freshman with 6 ½ and had a career-best 10 tackles last week. Noil has 255 yards receiving with three scores and also returns kicks and punts for the Aggies.

GOOD BO, BAD BO: Wallace had a good game during last week’s win over Alabama, throwing for 251 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s thrown for 1,522 yards this season and 14 touchdowns this season, but is also tied for the league lead with six interceptions. South Carolina’s Dylan Thompson and Florida’s Jeff Driskel have also thrown six interceptions.

REYNOLDS ROLLING: Texas A&M receiver Josh Reynolds, a sophomore transfer, leads the Aggies with 402 yards receiving, and his team-best seven touchdowns are the most in school history through a player’s first six career games. He has three catches this season for 40 yards or more.

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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