I had the Saturday night column written in my head.

“Trace McSorley adds signature win to historic Penn State résumé.”

I would’ve gushed over McSorley’s ability to recognize the running lanes the second the pocket collapses, or how he continuously completes downfield passes that look like 50-50 balls without somehow putting himself at risk for a turnover. I’ would’ve marveled at his ability to take a hit and bounce back up like he was ready for more, or how he always seemed to find the open receiver.

I’d probably sound like James Franklin at a mid-week press conference, searching for new ways to praise the player who’s been as instrumental as anyone in the post-Joe Paterno era.

Which is all the more reason that Franklin was foolish not to let McSorley make a fourth-down play on Saturday night.

It was because of that decision — and the Lions’ inability to adjust to Ohio State’s screen passes that basically became the play you couldn’t stop against your friend in Madden — that McSorley is now staring at a third straight season of coming up short of the Playoff. Penn State isn’t eliminated from the Playoff, but even as a 1-loss team without a conference title or marquee non-conference win, the chances wouldn’t be great.

And with the likes of Tua Tagovailoa, Dwayne Haskins and Kyler Murray taking over college football, I fear that we’re going to lose sight of just how amazing McSorley is. Obviously that wouldn’t have been the case had Penn State won on Saturday night.

But now, with McSorley not likely to show up on NFL draft boards or Heisman Trophy front-runner lists, this frustrating narrative could cloud McSorley’s legacy.

That’d be a huge, huge mistake.

Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

If there’s one thing that I hate about college football — besides institutions using their power to play by their own rules — it’s that fans have a tendency to dismiss players who either don’t:

  • A) Play in a national championship
  • B) Win a Heisman
  • B) Get drafted in the first round

That’s especially true with quarterbacks. Even Heisman winners like Troy Smith or Eric Crouch get the “yeah, but” because they didn’t turn out to be great pros.

McSorley doesn’t deserve to be a “yeah, but.” He deserves to be considered one of the great college quarterbacks of the decade. That’s right. Of the decade.

He’s already got the “best quarterback in Penn State history” title locked up. The guy owns virtually every Penn State passing record there is, and he’s in position to finish his career ranked among the top 5 in career rushing touchdowns. If McSorley continues his average of 2.8 touchdowns per start, he’ll finish his career with 116 scores in essentially 3 seasons. That’s the same total that Deshaun Watson had in 38 games at Clemson.

Watson is ranked No. 27 on the all-time touchdowns responsible for list. There’s a decent chance that McSorley finishes among the top 25, which is something that only 10 Power 5 quarterbacks have done since 2010. Here’s what that list looks like:

  • Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
  • J.T. Barrett, Ohio State
  • Aaron Murray, Georgia
  • Marcus Mariota, Oregon
  • Tajh Boyd, Clemson
  • Russell Wilson, Wisconsin
  • Landry Jones, Oklahoma
  • Luke Falk, Washington State
  • Matt Barkley, USC
  • Lamar Jackson, Louisville

That’s some pretty elite company. That’s impressive for a quarterback who isn’t necessarily known for his stats. It’s more about his toughness, and his ability to deliver with the game on the line. Franklin always references how “McSorley has been a winner since he was in diapers.”

I’m pretty sure McSorley had his big-boy pants on Saturday night and he could’ve given Penn State a better chance on 4th and 5 with the ball in his hands, but hey, we’re moving on.

Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports

We shouldn’t move on from McSorley’s performance, though. Besides extending the longest active streak of games with a touchdown pass (33) and ripping off a career-long run of 51 yards, McSorley set the Penn State single-game record for total offense (461 yards).

Think about that. McSorley had the most productive game from a yards standpoint in Penn State history against No. 4 Ohio State. And go figure, that was the first home loss of his career.

That’s special. He’s special.

Those denying McSorley’s abilities are going to realize just how special he is when Penn State finally has to move on from him at season’s end. There’s a fairly decent chance that McSorley leads the Lions to their third straight season of double-digit wins and a New Year’s 6 bowl. Even a 10-win season would improve McSorley’s record as a starter to 32-7 and 22-5 against the B1G.

So don’t let McSorley’s greatness fade off as the discussion around his Heisman bid and national title goal quiets. Appreciate every bit of McSorley that’s left.

Enjoy how a guy who was recruited to play defensive back has been playing quarterback like few in America have the last 3 years. Marvel at the fearlessness he plays the game with, whether it’s taking a Jim McMahon-like hit on a scramble or letting an on-target deep ball fly when he’s got an untouched rusher barreling down on him.

Don’t get lost in discussion about McSorley’s legacy lacking a Playoff berth or what he’s going to become at the next level. That’s not fair to what McSorley spend the last 3 years building at Penn State. I don’t know how the rest of his football career will play out, or if he’ll have another opportunity like he did on Saturday (well, should’ve had).

All I know is that it’s been a pleasure watching him play football the last few years, which I got a good reminder of on Saturday night.

A horrific fourth-down play call didn’t change either one of those things.