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Dallas • Seth Russell threw for 376 yards with three of his five touchdowns to Jay Lee, and the new starting quarterback also ran for a score as fourth-ranked Baylor finally got back on the field with 56-21 victory at SMU on Friday night.

The Bears got to start fresh after the long offseason that followed their playoff snub despite a second consecutive Big 12 Conference title, and then blowing a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter in a Cotton Bowl loss to Michigan State.

Russell succeeded two-year starter Bryce Petty and the Bears kept rolling on offense, as has become usual under eighth-season coach Art Briles. Russell completed 15 of 30 passes and had a 4-yard TD run as Baylor had 723 total yards. They averaged 582 yards and 48 points a game last season.

SMU played its first game for new coach Chad Morris, Clemson's offensive coordinator the past four seasons.

The Mustangs, who scored only 12 total points their first four games last season including a 45-0 loss at Baylor, had 21 points in the first 1 1-2 quarters. They were still in the game until two impressive TD catches by Lee in the third quarter.

Russell hit Corey Coleman for a 42-yard gain on the game's first play and Baylor got in the end zone on all four of its possessions in the first quarter. The Bears' first two drives each took less than a minute to cover 75 yards in four plays.

With dual-threat quarterback Matt Davis, the Mustangs immediately responded with touchdowns on their first two drives. Davis threw a 46-yard TD to Courtland Sutton on their first offensive play of the season, and they later connected on a 31-yard score.

Davis finished 16 of 23 passing for 166 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He ran 24 times for 115 yards.

The opener came two days after Baylor hired a Philadelphia law firm to do an independent investigation into the university's handling of sexual assault complaints, including one that led to a conviction last month against former transfer Sam Ukwuachu. The defensive end never played a down for the Bears.

Baylor was without two All-Big 12 starters on defense. Big end Shawn Oakman and safety Orion Stewart were suspended for the opener for violation of unspecified team rules.

No. 5 Michigan State 37, Western Michigan 24 • In Kalamazoo, Mich., Madre London ran for two touchdowns in the first several minutes of his college career to help Michigan State build a big lead it needed to hold off Western Michigan for a victory.

The Spartans (1-0) had a 27-7 lead in the second quarter and were up by 24 points in the third. The Broncos (0-1) pulled within 10 points early in the fourth by putting together two long TD drives.

After giving up a field goal and having a three-and-out possession, Western Michigan drove to the Michigan State 7 with a chance to make the final minutes dramatic. Freshman cornerback Vayante Copeland, though, ended the suspense with an interception in the end zone.

The Spartans set a school record by scoring 30-plus points for the ninth straight game. They surpassed the 30-point mark in eight consecutive games, spanning the 1978 and 1979 season. —

Friday's scores

• No. 4 Baylor 56, SMU 21 • No. 5 Michigan St. 37, Western Michigan 24 • No. 23 Boise St. vs. Washington, late