Best games of Sep 15–21

The most dramatic games of the week, ranked the same way as Worth the replay?: late drama, comebacks, lead swaps and overtime, weighted by how big a game it was. No scores, no winners.

  1. #1
    LSUatOle Miss
    CFB· Sat, Sep 19· ABCDown to the wire
    A
    78/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95, estimated) = 78

  2. #2
    TempleatToledo
    CFB· Sat, Sep 19· CBSSNOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 70

  3. #3
    NC StateatVanderbilt
    CFB· Sat, Sep 19· SEC NetworkDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 68

  4. #4
    SMUatLouisville
    CFB· Sat, Sep 19· ESPN2Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.95 (pre-game Watchability 90, estimated) = 68

  5. #5
    Miami OHatCincinnati
    CFB· Sat, Sep 19· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 62

  6. #6
    East CarolinaatOld Dominion
    CFB· Sat, Sep 19· ESPN+Back and forth
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 59

  7. #7
    GA SouthernatJax State
    CFB· Sat, Sep 19· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 59

  8. #8
    North CarolinaatClemson
    CFB· Sat, Sep 19· ESPNEWS/Disney+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 58

  9. #9
    NevadaatMTSU
    CFB· Sat, Sep 19· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 56

  10. #10
    West VirginiaatVirginia
    CFB· Sat, Sep 19· ACC NetworkBig comeback
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 65 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 53

  11. #11
    MarshallatMissouri St
    CFB· Sat, Sep 19· CBSSNDown to the wire
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 50

  12. #12
    FIUatFAU
    CFB· Sat, Sep 19· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    48/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 69 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 48

  13. #13
    North TexasatTexas St
    CFB· Sat, Sep 19· USA NetBack and forth
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension15/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 39

  14. #14
    CoastalatDelaware
    CFB· Sat, Sep 19· CBSSNDown to the wire
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 39

  15. #15
    HoustonatTexas Tech
    CFB· Fri, Sep 18· Fox
    C
    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension13/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late2/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.95 (pre-game Watchability 90, estimated) = 36

Updated nightly. Games from before our pre-game Watchability numbers start (early September) use an estimate from the AP rankings for college football and an average for the rest.