Worth the replay?

Saturday, September 6's games ranked by how good they turned out to be: late drama, comebacks, lead swaps and overtime. No scores, no winners, so you can decide what to watch without spoilers.

Best games of the season →
  1. #1
    BayloratSMU
    CFB· CWOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    83/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 83

  2. #2
    South FloridaatFlorida
    CFB· SEC NetworkDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    78/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 78

  3. #3
    Arizona StatMississippi St
    CFB· ESPN2Down to the wireBig comeback
    A
    76/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 76

  4. #4
    UConnatSyracuse
    CFB· ESPN+/ACCNXOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

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

  5. #5
    Boston CollegeatMichigan St
    CFB· NBC/PeacockOvertimeDown 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

  6. #6
    BryantatUMass
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 67

  7. #7
    Sacramento StatNevada
    CFBDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 67

  8. #8
    North TexasatW Michigan
    CFB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 66

  9. #9
    ArmyatKansas St
    CFB· ESPNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 63

  10. #10
    Missouri StatMarshall
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  11. #11
    Fresno StatOregon St
    CFB· CWDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 61

  12. #12
    KansasatMissouri
    CFB· ESPN2Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 60

  13. #13
    VirginiaatNC State
    CFB· ESPN2Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 60

  14. #14
    N ColoradoatColorado St
    CFBDown to the wire
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  15. #15
    IowaatIowa State
    CFB· FoxDown to the wire
    B
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 55

  16. #16
    TulsaatNew Mexico St
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 53

  17. #17
    Idaho StatNew Mexico
    CFBDown to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    48/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  18. #18
    Long IslandatE Michigan
    CFB· ESPN+Big comeback
    C
    43/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 43

  19. #19
    West VirginiaatOhio
    CFB· ESPNU
    C
    41/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 59 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 41

  20. #20
    Texas StatUTSA
    CFB· ESPN+Back and forth
    C
    37/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension17/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  21. #21
    Ole MissatKentucky
    CFB· ABC
    C
    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late3/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 44 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 36

  22. #22
    TroyatClemson
    CFB· ACC Network
    D
    30/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 37 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 30

  23. #23
    VanderbiltatVirginia Tech
    CFB· ACC Network
    D
    29/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension4/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 42 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 29

  24. #24
    IllinoisatDuke
    CFB· ESPNOne-sided
    D
    20/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 24 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 20

  25. #25
    UABatNavy
    CFB· CBSSNBack and forth
    D
    19/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension4/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 28 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 19

  26. #26
    TulaneatSouth Alabama
    CFB· ESPN+
    D
    18/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension9/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 18

  27. #27
    UCLAatUNLV
    CFB· CBSSN
    D
    18/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension15/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 18

  28. #28
    LibertyatJax State
    CFB· CBSSNOne-sided
    D
    17/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension9/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 17

  29. #29
    MichiganatOklahoma
    CFB· ABCOne-sided
    D
    16/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 17 × pre-game weight 0.95 (pre-game Watchability 90, estimated) = 16

  30. #30
    MemphisatGeorgia St
    CFB· ESPN+Back and forthOne-sided
    D
    15/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 21 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 15

Ranked from each game's win probability as it was played (ESPN's for football and basketball; ours, from the goals, for hockey): how in doubt it was near the end, how far the winner came back from, how late it was decided, how big its momentum swings were and how often a team erased a deficit, with a bonus for overtime. That drama is then weighted by how good a matchup it was going in (its pre-game Watchability score), so a thriller between top teams ranks above an equally wild game between minor ones.

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