Best games of Sep 1–7

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
    W MichiganatMichigan
    CFB· Sat, Sep 5· NBCDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    78/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 78

  2. #2
    The CitadelatCharlotte
    CFB· Sat, Sep 5· ESPN+OvertimeDown 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
    LouisvilleatOle Miss
    CFB· Sun, Sep 6· ABCDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95, estimated) = 69

  4. #4
    ColoradoatGeorgia Tech
    CFB· Thu, Sep 3· ESPNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 65

  5. #5
    UAlbanyatBuffalo
    CFB· Thu, Sep 3· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  6. #6
    SMUatFlorida St
    CFB· Mon, Sep 7· ESPNDown to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 69 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 57

  7. #7
    San José StatE Michigan
    CFB· Fri, Sep 4· ESPN+Back and forth
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  8. #8
    Idaho StatUtah State
    CFB· Sat, Sep 5· CBSSNBig comebackBack and forth
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 54

  9. #9
    UCLAatCalifornia
    CFB· Sat, Sep 5· ESPN
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 50

  10. #10
    Boise StatOregon
    CFB· Sat, Sep 5· CBSBack and forth
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 57 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 47

  11. #11
    BayloratAuburn
    CFB· Sat, Sep 5· ABC/Disney+Down to the wire
    C+
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 64 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 45

  12. #12
    Tarleton StatBowling Green
    CFB· Sat, Sep 5· ESPN+
    C
    44/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 63 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 44

  13. #13
    Oklahoma StatTulsa
    CFB· Sat, Sep 5· ESPNU
    C
    37/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension18/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 53 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 37

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.