Memphis, Tenn. — It's all about Kevin Smith.

Today's Liberty Bowl offers plenty of story lines. There's Sylvester Croom's revitalization of moribund Mississippi State and George O'Leary's resurrection of Central Florida and his career. But all anyone wants to talk about is Smith's chase of Barry Sanders' single-season rushing record. Everyone except Smith, that is.

"If I get 50 yards and we beat Mississippi State, I'm the happiest guy in the world," he said. "If we get to 11 wins and I get to be on the field, I'm the happiest man in the world."

Smith needs 181 yards to break Sanders' record of 2,628 yards, set in 1988 at Oklahoma State. The junior pushed Central Florida (10-3) to seven straight wins and the Conference USA championship in the fourth year of O'Leary's tenure.