Worth the replay?

Saturday, September 13'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
    GeorgiaatTennessee
    CFB· ABCOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A+
    98/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95, estimated) = 98

  2. #2
    Texas A&MatNotre Dame
    CFB· NBC/PeacockDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A+
    90/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95, estimated) = 90

  3. #3
    UConnatDelaware
    CFB· 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

  4. #4
    PittatWest Virginia
    CFB· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10
    Overtime+8

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

  5. #5
    MTSUatNevada
    CFBDown 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

  6. #6
    BuffaloatKent State
    CFB· CBSSNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  7. #7
    ClemsonatGeorgia Tech
    CFB· ESPNDown to the wire
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 62

  8. #8
    MonmouthatCharlotte
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 57

  9. #9
    ArkansasatOle Miss
    CFB· ESPNBack and forth
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 68 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 56

  10. #10
    Iowa StateatArkansas St
    CFB· ESPN2Down to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 64 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 53

  11. #11
    Jax StateatGA Southern
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 51

  12. #12
    MinnesotaatCalifornia
    CFB· ESPNBack and forth
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  13. #13
    New HampshireatBall State
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    49/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 49

  14. #14
    AkronatUAB
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C
    43/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  15. #15
    Boston CollegeatStanford
    CFB· ACC NetworkBig comebackBack and forth
    C
    38/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 54 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 38

  16. #16
    Air ForceatUtah State
    CFB· FS1Down to the wire
    C
    38/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 54 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 38

  17. #17
    MercyhurstatSacramento St
    CFB· ESPN+Back and forth
    D
    35/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension11/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 50 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 35

  18. #18
    FAUatFIU
    CFB· ESPN+Back and forth
    D
    30/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 42 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 30

  19. #19
    FloridaatLSU
    CFB· ABC
    D
    27/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension11/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 32 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 27

  20. #20
    VanderbiltatSouth Carolina
    CFB· SEC Network
    D
    23/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 28 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 23

  21. #21
    App StateatSouthern Miss
    CFB· ESPN+
    D
    19/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 26 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 19

  22. #22
    NavyatTulsa
    CFB· ESPN+
    D
    18/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 26 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 18

  23. #23
    Old DominionatVirginia Tech
    CFB· ACCNXOne-sided
    D
    16/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 23 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 16

  24. #24
    LibertyatBowling Green
    CFB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 15 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 10

  25. #25
    SE MissouriatN Dakota St
    CFB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 9

  26. #26
    SMUatMissouri St
    CFB· CBSSNOne-sided
    D
    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 9

  27. #27
    DukeatTulane
    CFB· ESPN2One-sided
    D
    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 9

  28. #28
    MemphisatTroy
    CFB· ESPNUOne-sided
    D
    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings7/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 11 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 7

  29. #29
    MerrimackatKennesaw St
    CFB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings3/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 7 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 5

  30. #30
    Texas StatArizona St
    CFB· TNT/truTV/HBO MaxOne-sided
    D
    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings4/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 7 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 5

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.

Get the weekend's best games every Friday

The most watchable games across every sport, what's at stake in the playoff races, and last week's best games, spoiler-free. Free, one email a week.

Sports you care about