Worth the replay?

Saturday, October 4'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
    Maple LeafsatRed Wings
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

  2. #2
    DevilsatFlyers
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

  3. #3
    VirginiaatLouisville
    CFB· ESPN2OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 71

  4. #4
    E MichiganatBuffalo
    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

  5. #5
    Texas StatArkansas St
    CFB· ESPNUDown 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

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

  6. #6
    Kansas StatBaylor
    CFB· ESPN+Down 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

  7. #7
    Penn StateatUCLA
    CFB· CBSBig comeback
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 69

  8. #8
    MagicatHeat
    NBA· NBA TVDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66

  9. #9
    OhioatBall State
    CFB· CBSSNDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 63

  10. #10
    HurricanesatPredators
    NHLOvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62

  11. #11
    DucksatKings
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61

  12. #12
    WashingtonatMaryland
    CFB· BTNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  13. #13
    South AlabamaatTroy
    CFB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 60

  14. #14
    KansasatUCF
    CFB· ESPN2Down to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  15. #15
    UTSAatTemple
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  16. #16
    ColoradoatTCU
    CFB· FoxDown to the wire
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  17. #17
    Oregon StatApp State
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    48/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 68 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 48

  18. #18
    Wake ForestatVirginia Tech
    CFB· CWBack and forth
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 47

  19. #19
    AvalancheatStars
    NHLDown to the wire
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 46

  20. #20
    SharksatMammoth
    NHL· ESPN+
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 46

  21. #21
    Air ForceatNavy
    CFB· CBS/Paramount+Down to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 66 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 46

  22. #22
    Michigan StatNebraska
    CFB· FS1
    C
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension26/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  23. #23
    NevadaatFresno St
    CFB· CBSSN
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 49 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 34

  24. #24
    VanderbiltatAlabama
    CFB· ABC
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension10/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 35 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95, estimated) = 34

  25. #25
    FAUatRice
    CFB· ESPN+
    D
    29/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension13/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  26. #26
    C MichiganatAkron
    CFB· ESPN+
    D
    28/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension9/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  27. #27
    Iowa StateatCincinnati
    CFB· ESPN2
    D
    28/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension15/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 34 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 28

  28. #28
    TexasatFlorida
    CFB· ESPN
    D
    27/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 33 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 27

  29. #29
    James MadisonatGeorgia St
    CFB· ESPN+
    D
    27/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension12/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late2/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 27

  30. #30
    Miami OHatN Illinois
    CFB· ESPN+
    D
    27/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension8/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 27

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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