Worth the replay?

Saturday, September 27'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
    OregonatPenn State
    CFB· NBC/PeacockOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A+
    98/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    USCatIllinois
    CFB· FoxDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A+
    95/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.95 (pre-game Watchability 90, estimated) = 95

  3. #3
    TennesseeatMississippi St
    CFB· SEC NetworkOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    83/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  4. #4
    Georgia TechatWake Forest
    CFB· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    83/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10
    Overtime+8

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

  5. #5
    IndianaatIowa
    CFB· PeacockDown to the wire
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 72

  6. #6
    MarshallatLouisiana
    CFB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  7. #7
    CincinnatiatKansas
    CFB· TNTDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 69

  8. #8
    San José StatStanford
    CFB· ACC NetworkDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 68

  9. #9
    CaliforniaatBoston College
    CFB· ACC NetworkBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 68

  10. #10
    AlabamaatGeorgia
    CFB· ABCDown to the wire
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95, estimated) = 66

  11. #11
    DucksatKings
    NHLDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

  12. #12
    RutgersatMinnesota
    CFB· BTNDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 63

  13. #13
    San Diego StatN Illinois
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 62

  14. #14
    BYUatColorado
    CFB· ESPNDown to the wire
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 60

  15. #15
    BlackhawksatBlues
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 58

  16. #16
    BruinsatFlyers
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 58

  17. #17
    Virginia TechatNC State
    CFB· CWDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 57

  18. #18
    LouisvilleatPitt
    CFB· ESPN2Big comeback
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 56

  19. #19
    Western KYatMissouri St
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  20. #20
    Arkansas StatUL Monroe
    CFB· ESPN+
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension27/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 52

  21. #21
    UConnatBuffalo
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    49/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 70 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 49

  22. #22
    AuburnatTexas A&M
    CFB· ESPN
    C
    41/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 50 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 41

  23. #23
    Cal PolyatSacramento St
    CFB· ESPN+Back and forth
    C
    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension12/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 52 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 36

  24. #24
    UCLAatNorthwestern
    CFB· BTN
    D
    32/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension27/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 32

  25. #25
    MTSUatKennesaw St
    CFB· ESPN+
    D
    31/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension26/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 45 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 31

  26. #26
    LSUatOle Miss
    CFB· ABC
    D
    31/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension16/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 32 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95, estimated) = 31

  27. #27
    Hawai'iatAir Force
    CFB· FS1
    D
    31/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 44 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 31

  28. #28
    PredatorsatLightning
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 34 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 25

  29. #29
    Blue JacketsatPenguins
    NHL· NHL Net
    D
    22/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22

  30. #30
    MemphisatFAU
    CFB· ESPN2Back and forth
    D
    20/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late3/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 29 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 20

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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