Worth the replay?

Saturday, October 25'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
    TexasatMississippi St
    CFB· SEC NetworkOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    83/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    South FloridaatMemphis
    CFB· ESPN2Down to the wireBig comeback
    A
    77/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 77

  3. #3
    KingsatPredators
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

  4. #4
    SabresatMaple Leafs
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    74/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 74

  5. #5
    Hornetsat76ers
    NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    74/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 74

  6. #6
    AlabamaatSouth Carolina
    CFB· ABCDown to the wire
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 73

  7. #7
    IslandersatFlyers
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

  8. #8
    Blue JacketsatPenguins
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71

  9. #9
    Ole MissatOklahoma
    CFB· ABCBack and forth
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95, estimated) = 71

  10. #10
    UConnatRice
    CFB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  11. #11
    MissouriatVanderbilt
    CFB· ESPNDown to the wire
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 69 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95, estimated) = 68

  12. #12
    SMUatWake Forest
    CFB· CWDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 67

  13. #13
    VirginiaatNorth Carolina
    CFB· ACC NetworkOvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 66

  14. #14
    RutgersatPurdue
    CFB· BTNDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 64

  15. #15
    W MichiganatMiami OH
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 61

  16. #16
    Bowling GreenatKent State
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  17. #17
    AuburnatArkansas
    CFB· SEC NetworkBig comeback
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  18. #18
    TempleatTulsa
    CFB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 58

  19. #19
    BluesatRed Wings
    NHL· ESPN+Big comeback
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 54

  20. #20
    DucksatLightning
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 69 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51

  21. #21
    HurricanesatStars
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  22. #22
    CanadiensatCanucks
    NHL· ESPN+
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  23. #23
    NorthwesternatNebraska
    CFB· FS1Down to the wire
    C
    43/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 43

  24. #24
    BullsatMagic
    NBA
    C
    41/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension15/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late2/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 55 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 41

  25. #25
    AkronatBuffalo
    CFB· ESPN+Big comebackBack and forth
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension17/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 39

  26. #26
    LouisianaatTroy
    CFB· ESPN+Back and forth
    C
    37/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 54 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 37

  27. #27
    BYUatIowa State
    CFB· FoxBig comeback
    C
    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension4/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 44 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 36

  28. #28
    GA SouthernatArkansas St
    CFB· ESPN+
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension14/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 48 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 34

  29. #29
    Texas A&MatLSU
    CFB· ABC
    D
    29/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95, estimated) = 29

  30. #30
    MammothatWild
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    29/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 39 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 29

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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