Worth the replay?

1. #1

   Jax StateatSam Houston

   CFB· CBSSNDown 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

2. #2

   East CarolinaatTulane

   CFB· ESPNDown to the wire

   B

   56/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

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

3. #3

   Southern MissatGA Southern

   CFB· ESPN2

   D

   24/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension11/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 35 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 24

4. #4

   Louisiana TechatKennesaw St

   CFB· ESPNUBig comeback

   D

   20/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback15/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   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.