Worth the replay?

1. #1

   Florida StatVirginia

   CFB· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   A

   78/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

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

2. #2

   TCUatArizona St

   CFB· FoxDown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback17/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 75

3. #3

   HoustonatOregon St

   CFB· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   70/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback20/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Overtime+8

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

4. #4

   KrakenatCanucks

   NHL· NHL NetDown to the wire

   C+

   55/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback13/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55

5. #5

   Red WingsatPenguins

   NHL· NHL Net

   C

   42/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 42

6. #6

   Golden KnightsatSharks

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   34/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

7. #7

   HurricanesatLightning

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   30/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 41 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 30

8. #8

   DevilsatIslanders

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   28/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 37 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 28

9. #9

   JetsatOilers

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   7/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 9 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7

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.