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Texas probably works on special teams more than most other schools in the nation. And it shows. In five years with special teams guru Duane Akina, Texas has blocked 43 kicks, the most of any team in the nation over that period. Coach Akina takes a different approach to his special teams units, actually making it seem cool to the players to be in the group. The punt return and block teams even have a nickname, "The Posse". Mack Brown even said that this year's special teams units may be the best he has ever seen. They already have recorded 3 blocked kicks and both Aaron Ross and Quan Cosby have returned punts for touchdowns this season.

The only downside would be the field goal kicking where Greg Johnson is 1 of 2 on the season. The only pressure kick he faced, he missed badly to the right against Ohio State. Luckily we don't rely on the kicking game because Mack is usually pretty aggressive and tries to go for it on 4th down whenever possible. I will say though, that I will be quite nervous if we have Johnson lining up to kick a field goal to win the game, no matter the distance.

The Sooners do have some skill players on special teams, including super versatile Reggie Smith, who is always a threat to return a punt or kickoff for a touchdown. However the Oklahoma specials teams hasn't seen the firepower it once had. Last year marks the first year in the Stoops era that OU had no touchdown returned on a punt or kickoff. And it was just this past weekend where Reggie Smith returned the first punt for a touchdown in a rout of Middle Tennessee.

I just don't see anything too intimidating on the specials teams for OU. Texas obviously puts the work into their special teams and I think most agree they are some of the best in the nation.

EDGE: Texas