Worth the replay?

Saturday, October 11'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
    BYUatArizona
    CFB· ESPN2OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    83/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    DucksatSharks
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  3. #3
    IndianaatOregon
    CFB· CBSDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    74/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95, estimated) = 74

  4. #4
    PittatFlorida St
    CFB· ESPNDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 70

  5. #5
    TroyatTexas St
    CFB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

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

  6. #6
    StarsatAvalanche
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

  7. #7
    Air ForceatUNLV
    CFB· CBSSNDown 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
    NavyatTemple
    CFB· ESPN2Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  9. #9
    FlyersatHurricanes
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67

  10. #10
    NebraskaatMaryland
    CFB· BTNDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  11. #11
    MammothatPredators
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

  12. #12
    San José StatWyoming
    CFB· CBSSNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 63

  13. #13
    NorthwesternatPenn State
    CFB· FS1Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  14. #14
    Iowa StateatColorado
    CFB· ESPNBack and forth
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 59

  15. #15
    GeorgiaatAuburn
    CFB· ABCBig comeback
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 59

  16. #16
    PurdueatMinnesota
    CFB· BTNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 59

  17. #17
    ToledoatBowling Green
    CFB· ESPNUDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 58

  18. #18
    AlabamaatMissouri
    CFB· ABC
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 59 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95, estimated) = 58

  19. #19
    N IllinoisatE Michigan
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  20. #20
    Golden KnightsatKraken
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 54

  21. #21
    CanadiensatBlackhawks
    NHL· NHL NetDown to the wire
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 50

  22. #22
    BluesatFlames
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    49/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 66 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 49

  23. #23
    Maple LeafsatRed Wings
    NHL· ESPN+
    C+
    49/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 66 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 49

  24. #24
    KingsatJets
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    48/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 64 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 48

  25. #25
    HawksatGrizzlies
    NBADown to the wire
    C+
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 60 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 45

  26. #26
    South CarolinaatLSU
    CFB· SEC Network
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 47 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 39

  27. #27
    LouisianaatJames Madison
    CFB· ESPN2
    D
    33/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension14/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 47 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 33

  28. #28
    HornetsatMavericks
    NBABack and forth
    D
    33/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension7/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 44 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 33

  29. #29
    Utah StateatHawai'i
    CFBBack and forth
    D
    32/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension7/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  30. #30
    Old DominionatMarshall
    CFB· ESPN+Big comeback
    D
    30/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

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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