2026-07-06 19:34:35 Watching Heisman race as season nears halfway mark – NEW WTOP Skip to main content

Watching Heisman race as season nears halfway mark

By WTOP Staff

RALPH D. RUSSO
AP College Football Writer

The Heisman Trophy race, much like the playoff chase, took a detour last weekend. The presumptive favorite, Marcus Mariota of Oregon, was unable to prevent his team from being upset. Dak Prescott emerged as a legitimate contender for Mississippi State and a couple of guys who were trending in September — Kenny Hill of Texas A&M and Ameer Abdullah of Nebraska — cooled off.

And now Jameis Winston isn’t the only candidate to be suspended.

As the season hits the midway point, a Heisman edition of things to watch for this weekend.

WHAT TO DO WITH JAMEIS?

Winston’s quest to become the second player to win two Heisman trophies might already be over. Before he ever played a down, the Florida State quarterback had two things working against him. First, he probably had to be at least as good, if not better, than last year, when he had one of the best seasons a college quarterback has ever had. Second, Winston came into the season carrying the baggage of off-the-field issues, and then added more with a one-game suspension.

Charles Davis, an analyst for Fox and Heisman voter, said he hasn’t eliminated Winston, but he thinks other voters might be leaning that way already.

“My sense is that most voters will look for an alternative,” Davis said in an email.

“As a colleague said to me recently: ‘I’m tired of having to defend my Heisman vote for things that are non-football related.'”

Winston and the top-ranked Seminoles are at Syracuse on Saturday.

STOCK DOWN

Preseason Heisman hype hasn’t meant much in recent years, but Mariota looked to be a player who could buck that trend and go from preseason favorite to runaway winner. And then Arizona upset the Ducks. Mariota wasn’t bad in the game and his overall numbers are still impressive (15 touchdown passes and no interceptions). He did fumble twice versus the Wildcats and despite Oregon’s offensive line problems those turnovers have to go on his resume.

“Mariota was my leader until Oregon lost,” said voter Bob Asmussen of the Champaign (Illinois) News-Gazette. “It hurt him, but he is still a strong candidate.”

Mariota gets a chance for quick redemption on Saturday when the 12th-ranked Ducks play at No. 18 UCLA. It’s also an opportunity for Bruins quarterback Brett Hundley to get back into the mix.

STOCK UP

Prescott has overtaken Mariota and Hundley as the hot dual-threat quarterback, helping the Bulldogs bolt up the rankings to No. 3 in the country. The Tim Tebow comparisons help his cause, too. But things can change fast at this time of year. Great games against LSU and Texas A&M can be quickly overshadowed if Prescott plays a clunker against No. 2 Auburn.

“Early favorite in my book, based on games played, is Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott,” said voter Jimmy Burch of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

RUNNING IT UP

Since 2000, only two running backs have won the Heisman (USC’s Reggie Bush in 2005, since vacated, and Alabama’s Mark Ingram in 2009). The running backs have returned this season: Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon (174 yards per game, tops in the nation) and Georgia’s Todd Gurley (155 ypg, third in the country) all look capable of making a run at the Heisman. Both are averaging more than 8.0 yards per carry.

The Badgers host Illinois on Saturday. However, Gurley is suspended indefinitely while the school looks into allegations of NCAA violations. Meanwhile, No. 13 Georgia faces a key SEC East matchup at No. 23 Missouri.

A player who won’t get as much attention as he probably should: Indiana’s Tevin Coleman (168 ypg, second in the country). The Hoosiers are at Iowa.

CATCHING ON

Only two wide receivers have ever won the Heisman (Notre Dame’s Tim Brown in 1987 and Michigan’s Desmond Howard in 1991). Both also returned kicks. Alabama’s Amari Cooper doesn’t return kicks, but he’s a good enough receiver to make history. He leads the nation in catches per game (10.4) and is second in yards per game (149.2). The seventh-ranked Tide is at Arkansas on Saturday.

___

Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP

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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