I’m so glad that this game didn’t matter.

Sure, a win would’ve ended this roller coaster season on a high note, given the Big Ten some bragging rights, and sent Urban Meyer out of the college football coaching ranks with a big fat ‘L,’ but beyond that, the Outback Bowl was really just a glorified exhibition.

And thank god for that. Because if I had to sit through that performance during a regular season game, well, my anger would’ve manifested itself in more than just a Twitter tantrum. I might’ve thrown a chair through the TV. Because just when Penn State looked like they would complete the last-minute, game-winning drive–something they did to perfection last year against LSU in the Capital One Bowl, Matt McGloin reminded us just why he didn’t get any scholarship offers coming out of high school. That he’s, quite frankly, not a division-1 quarterback, or at least not a Big Ten one.

And the weird thing is, this game wasn’t the unanimously terrible bed-shittings that Penn State had against Iowa and Alabama. It wasn’t the total and utter collapse that occurred in the second half in Columbus. But it was the most painful game of the season–one that Penn State should have won, if it weren’t for the heinous, incomprehensibly bad afternoon that Matt McGloin had against a vulnerable Florida defense.

After 6 games, I think it’s safe to say that we know what we have in Matt McGloin–a quarterback who will take advantage of bad defenses, and struggle mightily against the good ones, who can make tough throws, but lacks the ability or the maturity to make multiple reads and find the open receiver, who will try and force more passes into tighter coverage than any passer I’ve seen in the Blue and White. McGloin threw 5 interceptions today, and another 3 or 4 potential picks were dropped by Florida defenders. On Penn State’s first touchdown drive, McGloin was 5 of 6, but the rest of the game, he went 12 for 35. He was nothing short of awful, and his overwhelming moxie didn’t help. Call it sick, call it what you will, but I was almost rooting for a game-sealing pick-6 at the end of the game. Why? Because losing this game would be worth it if it meant McGloin didn’t get a free pass into 2011. It’s funny-I like to compare McGloin to the intensely frustrating Anthony Morelli, but today, McGloin did something “QB14″ never did, something no Penn State QB ever managed. His 5 interceptions set a dubious Penn State record.

And sure enough, it really was McGloin who singlehandedly lost this game for Penn State. The defense didn’t deserve the ignominy of 37 points allowed–and it was really just 23, when you factor in a punt block-touchdown and a pick-6. But even Florida’s scoring drives didn’t exactly shred the Penn State D–their longest drive started at their own 43 and netted 37 yards. Frankly, it was one of the most complete performance that Tom Bradley’s unit had all season–an admittedly horrendous Florida passing game threw for just 101 yards–3.7 per attempt–and even the UF run game was held in check. Sure, the Gators ran for 178 yards, but on just 4 yards per carry. Take out Chris Rainey’s 51-yard scamper, and you get a better sense for how well the Lions played.

The defensive tackles were consistently pushing the Florida line back at the line, clogging holes and penetrating into the backfield. DaQuan Jones saw plenty of playing time, and he and Devon Still both made a number of big plays. Gerald Hodges didn’t start, but saw more action than Bani Gbadyu and flew across the field to make big tackles. And the secondary was phenomenal, especially D’Anton Lynn. Lynn intercepted John Brantley’s pass on Florida’s first offensive play from scrimmage, recovered a fumble, and made a number of sure tackles. Malcolm Willis made key pass break-ups, including one on a 3rd and long that was, entirely incorrectly, flagged for pass interference which led to a Florida touchdown. Stephon Morris reclaimed his starting job from Chaz Powell and played fine. In short–Florida’s vaunted SEC SPEED didn’t seem to give the Lions much agita.

And, frankly, the UF defense really didn’t impress me, either. Penn State’s offensive line had their best performance against an opponent with a pulse all season, giving Matt McGloin all day to throw, and, while not opening up too many gaping holes, creating running lanes for Evan Royster, allowing him to finish with 98 yards. To be fair to McGloin, he wasn’t helped by a number of drops from Justin Brown, either. But his 5 interceptions were not only the product of bad results, they represented terrible process, as well. He’s not good enough to get away with staring down receivers, and Penn State is too deep at that position to be handcuffed by a quarterback who won’t let them blossom. Derek Moye is turning into one of the best ever to suit up at wideout for the Nittany Lions, and Justin Brown, Curtis Drake, Shawney Kersey, and Devon Smith are more than a solid supporting cast. They deserve better than Matt McGloin.

Heading in 2011, there’s plenty to be optimistic about. The defense loses only Ollie Ogbu, Chris Colasanti, and Bani Gbadyu–and the latter two may represent addition by subtraction for a talented linebacking corps. The offensive line returns most starters, and Silas Redd looks like a sure stud. But none of that will matter unless Joe does something he was far too reluctant to do this afternoon–go to Rob Bolden. Or Paul Jones, for that matter. McGloin, aside from one beautifully thrown fade pass, showed no signs of life after the first quarter, but, like clockwork, he found himself in the huddle for the next drive. So many McGloin advocates claimed that he brought a “spark” into a struggling offense–by that same argument, shouldn’t Bolden have gotten a shot today? Given the situation when Bolden was pulled from the Northwestern game, it’s absolutely stunning that McGloin never seemed even at risk of coming out. If there’s not an absolutely legitimate quarterback competition over the summer, one that allows a better quarterback than Matt McGloin–which Joe Paterno has at least 2 of on the roster–a chance to start, this team won’t be watching in 2011.