Backup QB leads Wake Forest to opening win

Mitch Griffis threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start and Christian Turner and Taylor Morin added spectacular individual efforts on scores, helping No. 22 Wake Forest beat visiting VMI, 44-10, on Thursday night in the opener for both teams.

Griffis started with veteran Sam Hartman sidelined indefinitely by a nonfootball medical issue. Hartman — who guided the Demon Deacons to last year’s Atlantic Coast Conference championship game — was on the sideline in his black jersey, black shorts and a black cap to watch his understudy lead an easy win against a Championship Subdivision opponent.

Oklahoma State

Spencer Sanders passed for a career-high 406 yards and accounted for six touchdowns as host No. 12 Oklahoma State beat Central Michigan, 58-44, to give Mike Gundy his 150th coaching victory. Gundy improved to 150-69 in his 18th season coaching his alma mater.

Daniel Richardson passed for a career-high 424 yards and threw four touchdown passes for Central Michigan. Lew Nichols III, the nation’s leading rusher last year, ran for 72 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries.

Kansas

The Jayhawks locked second-year coach Lance Leipold into an additional year on his contract, athletic director Travis Goff announced. Leipold, who went 2-10 in his first season at KU, originally signed a six-year deal when hired in April 2021.

Utah

Defending Pac-12 champion No. 7 Utah opens with its highest preseason ranking in school history. The Utes travel to Gainesville, Fla., for the first time since 1977 and will try to hand Florida its first seasonopening loss at home since 1989. The Gators own the NCAA’s longest active winning streak in home openers at 32.

Colorado

Offensive lineman Casey Roddick nearly had football taken away last year when he tested positive for COVID-19 and was diagnosed with myocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart wall. For Roddick, his slow road back to the field simply underscored the importance of appreciating all the little things — like being voted team captain this week.