Aaron Rodgers has never been one to hold back. His comments on the 2004 college football season prove that point yet again! In a chaotic stream of takes that veered between scorching hot and icy cold, Rodgers unpacked a system riddled with missed calls, backroom votes, and shattered dreams. 

Southern Methodist University as national champions? Is Bo State making it to at least the semifinals? The Jets players laid it all bare with tongue-in-cheek wit, even throwing shade at Mack Brown and his brother Watson for their infamous lobbying tactics that denied Cal a shot at the Rose Bowl. “Where were these playoffs in 2004?” Rodgers asked. 

The Jets didn’t stop there, diving into a unique brand of off-the-cuff analysis. LSU? Greatest school in the world. Alabama? “It ain’t how you begin; it’s how you yield.” Michigan beating Western Michigan was apparently a bigger deal than anyone gave credit for. And somewhere in the midst of it all, Rodgers reminded everyone that this wasn’t a hot take. “You know we had Mack Brown and his brother Watson voting us down the polls, Kept us out of Rose Bowl,” Rodgers quipped.

But beneath the humor and chaos was a deeper critique. The 2004 playoffs were a mess, and Rodgers has always been vocal about how Cal, led by a 10–1 season and Rodgers’ own record-breaking performances, deserved a better fate. Instead, Mack Brown’s politicking bumped Texas into the Rose Bowl, relegating Cal to the Holiday Bowl—and leaving Rodgers and the Golden Bears to stew over what could have been. 

Flawed rankings and missed opportunities

At the heart of Rodgers’ ire is the system itself. Back in 2004, a hybrid of human polls and computer algorithms determined rankings—a combination ripe for exploitation. And exploited it. “Michigan should be in the CFT and Colorado—Big 12 Champs, no doubt!” One of the Jets players exclaimed as if reliving the chaos that had robbed so many teams of fair consideration. 

Cal wasn’t flashy enough, some said, even though their only loss was a nail-biter against No. 1 USC. Meanwhile, Texas, thanks to Mack Brown’s infamous “vote for us” plea, jumped Cal in the rankings without playing a game that final week. Rodgers famously labeled the move “classless,” a sentiment that resonates even today. 

The fallout? Cal stumbled in the Holiday Bowl, losing to Texas Tech in a blowout that underscored the emotional toll of their Rose Bowl snub. Texas, meanwhile, rode the momentum to claim the Rose Bowl and, a year later, a national championship. The disparity remains one of the greatest “what if” stories in college football. 

And Rodgers? He’s still talking about it, weaving narratives that mix biting critique with humor. Whether it’s a mock shoutout to Baylor’s win streak or a jab at Alabama’s late-game antics, his takes reflect the frustration of a player who experienced firsthand how politicking could derail a dream season.