Worth the replay?

1. #1

   CaliforniaatVirginia Tech

   CFB· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   B+

   69/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 69

2. #2

   MontanaatSacramento St

   CFB· ESPN2

   D

   23/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback10/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 33 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 23

3. #3

   North TexasatCharlotte

   CFB· ESPN2One-sided

   D

   11/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 16 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 11

4. #4

   Boise StatNevada

   CFB· CBSSNOne-sided

   D

   2/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings0/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 3 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 2

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.