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No. 3 Mississippi State set to host No. 2 Auburn

By WTOP Staff

DAVID BRANDT
AP Sports Writer

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — It wasn’t long ago that the mention of the numbers three and two brought sarcastic jokes and eye rolls from fans of Auburn and Mississippi State.

Now, they bring a sense of pride.

No. 3 Mississippi State (5-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) hosts No. 2 Auburn (5-0, 2-0) on Saturday in the first game between top 5 opponents in the history of Davis Wade Stadium. The winner will stay on top of the Western Division.

It was just six seasons ago that Auburn and Mississippi State played one of the ugliest games in recent college football history. The Tigers beat the Bulldogs 3-2 in Starkville, though it was hard for either team to claim victory after a game that featured 18 punts and in which the teams were a combined 3 of 30 on third-down conversions.

Now Auburn and Mississippi State have two of the most prolific offenses in the SEC.

The Bulldogs are averaging 42.6 points per game and have a Heisman Trophy candidate in quarterback Dak Prescott. Auburn scores 42 points per game and has featured one of the nation’s best running attacks since Gus Malzahn became the coach last season.

For Auburn, big games are nearly a weekly occurrence. The Tigers won the SEC and played for a national championship last season.

“It is not going to be a shock to our system,” Malzahn said. “At this point in our season, in the west they are all big. So we are just going to go about it one game at a time just like we have done the last year and a half.”

For Mississippi State, this is new territory. The Bulldogs have never been ranked this high in program history.

Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen said Auburn’s experience in games like this — on top of a talented roster — make this the most difficult challenge of the season.

“They’ve played in big games and know how to play in big games,” Mullen said. “They have one of the top defenses in the conference. You look at them — they have a lot of talented players.”

___

Here are some things to watch when Auburn faces Mississippi State on Saturday:

DAK ATTACK: Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott put his name in Heisman Trophy consideration last weekend with a breakout performance against Texas A&M. He ran for three touchdowns and threw for two more, showing a varied skill set that has continued to improve since he became the Bulldogs’ starter midway through last season.

NOT JUST DAK: Though Prescott is getting a big chunk of the press, the Bulldogs have others who are capable of making big plays. Junior Josh Robinson has been one of the league’s best running backs, with 592 rushing yards and six touchdowns this season. De’Runnya Wilson has given the Bulldogs a big target for Prescott. A former basketball player, the 6-foot-5 receiver has caught 14 passes for 247 yards and five touchdowns.

MORE DRAMA? The Auburn-Mississippi State series has featured some good games in the recent past, including last season’s 24-20 Auburn victory. The Tigers won after a fourth-quarter drive resulted in a touchdown with just 10 seconds remaining. Said coach Gus Malzahn, “We were still trying to figure out who we were. We were trying to figure out our quarterback’s strengths. They were very good on defense and they had a lot to do with it. We had to find a way to win.”

A PAYNE TO TACKLE: Auburn’s Cameron Artis-Payne has been on the SEC’s best running backs this season, with 594 rushing yards and five touchdowns. He has six career 100-yard games, including a 177-yard performance earlier this year against Arkansas.

TIGER DEFENSE: Auburn’s offense has been fine this season, but it’s the defense that has allowed the Tigers to be one of the league’s elite this season. Auburn is giving up just 14.4 points per game and was downright dominating in a 41-7 victory against LSU last weekend.

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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