December 29, 2019 | 2:52am

ATLANTA — No ending was ever as Jalen Hurts envisioned. Ultimate glory, always just out of reach.

Returning to the site of his greatest celebrations and disappointments, the Oklahoma quarterback’s college career ended with a 63-28 thud at Mercedes-Benz Stadium against top-ranked LSU. With another opportunity to reshape one of college football’s most complex legacies, the former Alabama star completed just 15-of-31 passes for 217 yards and threw his first interception in seven playoff games, while adding two rushing touchdowns.

“This is not a feeling I’ve ever felt before. It hurts me in my heart,” Hurts said. “I decided to come to this school and told everybody I was going to win a national championship and I failed to do that.”

Hurts won a national title in this building two years back, but was forced to watch Tua Tagovailoa lead the Crimson Tide to glory after being benched at halftime. Hurts replaced the southpaw less than 11 months later and led Alabama to an SEC championship, before the team was annihilated in the national title game by Clemson.

For the only quarterback to start a playoff game for two different teams, the path should have been straightforward.

Hurts was Alabama’s first true freshman quarterback in more than three decades, arriving in the midst of the greatest dynasty of all-time. He was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year. He scrambled 30 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 2:07 left in the national championship game.

Then, Alabama lost with one second remaining in the title game. He went 26-2 as a starter, then lost his job and dream in front of friends, family and millions more.

Hurts refused to concede what seemed so obvious. He returned to Tuscaloosa to beat out the all-time talented southpaw, lost the quarterback competition and became the country’s most talented cheerleader.

Then, Hurts returned to the field of his worst half of football — against the same opponent — and produced a comeback of resilience and inspiration.

“It’s just hard to sit here and reflect on four years,” Hurts said. “It goes by fast.”

Finishing his career at Oklahoma meant replacing back-to-back Heisman Trophy winners (Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray). It meant studying under his sixth offensive coordinator in four years. It resulted in the best season of his career.

Hurts led the nation in yards per passing attempt. He led the Sooners in rushing and posted the third-most efficient season by a passer in the sport’s history.

Hurts finished as Heisman runner-up, while an injured Tagovailoa sat home. Hurts reached a fourth straight playoff, while Alabama was left out for the first time.

But for the second time in three years, Hurts wasn’t the best quarterback in Atlanta. He watched the final minutes from the sideline again.

Ultimate glory, always just out of reach. No ending ever as he envisioned.

“Usually when you come up short at something, you can come back and you can fix it,” Hurts s said. “I can’t come back and fix it. I’ll never play college football again.”