SMU is getting more publicity and more national recognition with every big victory -- the biggest coming last Saturday in a road win over TCU.

But as SMU continues to make noise, Xavier Jones quietly puts up stats. And in putting up stats, the senior from Spring, Texas, has now put himself in a position to bypass one of the most respected to ever wear an SMU uniform.

Jones rushed for 79 yards and a touchdown and also caught a touchdown pass in SMU's 41-38 win against TCU. With that rushing touchdown, Jones has eight on the season and 30 for his career at SMU. He needs one to tie and two to pass Doak Walker for fourth all-time on SMU's career rushing touchdowns list.

Jones leads the team with 370 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns on the season and has been a major contributor to SMU's 4-0 start. He earned American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors the week of Sept. 9 after rushing for 127 yards and three touchdowns in a 49-27 win over North Texas.

"He understands the offense better. I think he's comfortable with it," Dykes said in the post-game conference following the North Texas game. "At this point last year, we were still trying to convince our players that the plays that we call work."

Jones this season already has passed SMU greats Ramon Flanigan (27), Alvin Maxon (24) and Kyle Rote (24) on the career rushing touchdowns list. With eight games remaining on the regular-season schedule -- and a possible two more with the American Athletic Conference Championship and a potential bowl game -- Jones will continue chasing the all-time leaders, Eric Dickerson and Zach Line, who each had 47 touchdowns in their respective careers.

To go along with his 30 career touchdowns, Jones has 2,530 career rushing yards, which ranks 10th all-time. He has nine games in his career with multiple touchdowns.

SMU (4-0) at USF (1-2)

3 p.m. CT, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida