Atticus Bertrams is putting together the kind of season that changes how a game feels from the sideline. The UCF senior is averaging a career-best 48.3 yards per punt, and with 15 punts already this year, he’s clearly found a higher gear in his third season.
That average tops his previous personal best of 45.3 yards, which he set as a sophomore at Wisconsin. It also puts him ahead of every UCF punter since the program entered the Big 12 in 2023. Anthony Venneri averaged 40.6 yards last season, while Mitch McCarthy - another Australian - posted 44.1 yards in 2024 and 41.2 yards in 2023.
“Stop putting pressure on yourself; leave it all out there,” Bertrams said during Monday's media availability. “I think I've done a good job of doing that this year, and playing free.”
Punting usually gets treated like the football equivalent of a shrug, a sign that a drive stalled out before it could become points. But the details matter, and Bertrams has been giving UCF something more valuable than distance alone: field position.
Three of his punts against Pittsburgh landed inside the Panthers’ 20-yard line. Two of those possessions ended with UCF’s defense forcing a punt of its own. The Knights opened with a quick three-and-out in the first quarter, then drew a false start in the second quarter that helped produce another punt.
Pittsburgh did eventually answer with a field goal on its second drive after Bertrams’ second punt pinned the Panthers deep. Mason Heintschel completed two 17-yard passes to Bryce Yates and Malik Knights during that 18-play march.
The broader picture is simple enough: Bertrams’ leg has become a real weapon for UCF, and it’s helping tilt the field in the Knights’ favor.
That role could become even bigger over the next three weeks. UCF is heading into its toughest stretch of conference play, with games coming against three ranked teams: No.
20 Houston, No. 19 Oklahoma State and No.
10 BYU.
In Other News...
UCF Faces A Bigger Test Than TCU In First Big 12 Road Game
UCFs Big 12 start could not have gone much better, with the Knights handling TCU in their league opener and now turning the page to a far tougher assignment. The next stop is a road trip to face No. 20 Houston, a noon ET kickoff on ESPN2 that will give Scott Frosts team its first conference game away from home and a quick read on how it travels in a league that can punish every misstep.
Houston coach Willie Fritz has already taken notice of what UCF brings to the table, while Frost knows the Cougars present a different kind of challenge than the one the Knights just passed. The matchup pairs a UCF team looking to prove its opening win was a start, not a peak, against a Houston group that has become harder to run on and more dangerous because of the way it disguises things on defense. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Hoops Gets An Early Test After Last Seasons Breakthrough
UCFs breakthrough season earned the program a louder stage, and the next step in the climb is already taking shape. The Knights now know part of their non-conference path for 2026, with the ESPN Events Invitational set as an early measuring stick after last seasons NCAA Tournament appearance and the momentum that came with it. The broader 2026-27 slate is also in place, with nine home and nine road Big 12 games mixed in with several non-conference dates, giving Johnny Dawkins another chance to see how far the program has come.
The timing matters, too, because UCF is trying to build on more than just one good run. Dawkins already has stability on the sideline after receiving an extension through the 2028-29 season, and that kind of continuity is part of why the Knights can treat these early-season tests as more than simple tune-ups. The invitational will provide another read on where UCF stands against outside competition, but the real question is how quickly the Knights can turn last years success into something more durable once the Big 12 grind starts. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Derry Is Doing The Work UCF Needs Most Right Now
Josh Derry has fit neatly into the part of UCFs offense that does a lot of the heavy lifting without always getting the loudest praise. The senior wide receiver, a transfer from Monmouth, has emerged as one of the Knights most trusted pass catchers and was singled out by Pro Football Focus as one of the Big 12s top returning receivers, but his role goes beyond what shows up in the box score. He has talked openly about valuing the work that helps the offense function, especially blocking and helping the running game stay on schedule.
For a UCF team that wants balance and knows what is ahead, that kind of buy-in matters. The Knights are headed into a demanding stretch and will need more than perimeter production from their receivers if they are going to keep pace, which is why Derrys willingness to embrace the less glamorous assignments stands out. He may be leading the group in yardage, but the bigger question for UCF is how much his all-around game can help carry an offense that is about to be tested in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]