Worth the replay?

Saturday, November 1'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
MiamiatSMU
CFB· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
A
83/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings25/25
Comeback17/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth10/10
Overtime+8
Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 83
#2
OklahomaatTennessee
CFB· ABCBack and forth
A
80/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension24/30
Swings22/25
Comeback13/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth10/10
Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.95 (pre-game Watchability 90, estimated) = 80
#3
WarriorsatPacers
NBA· NBA TVDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
B+
73/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings24/25
Comeback19/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth10/10
Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73
#4
SenatorsatCanadiens
NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
B+
73/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings25/25
Comeback13/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth7/10
Overtime+8
Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73
#5
Michigan StatMinnesota
CFB· BTNOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
B+
70/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings24/25
Comeback18/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth8/10
Overtime+8
Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 70
#6
CapitalsatSabres
NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
B+
68/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings21/25
Comeback11/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth7/10
Overtime+8
Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68
#7
DukeatClemson
CFB· ACC NetworkDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
B+
68/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings25/25
Comeback17/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth10/10
Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 68
#8
GeorgiaatFlorida
CFB· ABCDown to the wireBack and forth
B+
67/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings21/25
Comeback9/20
Decided late11/15
Back-and-forth10/10
Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 67
#9
Mississippi StatArkansas
CFB· SEC NetworkDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
B+
65/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings19/25
Comeback19/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth10/10
Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 65
#10
MavericksatPistons
NBA· PeacockDown to the wireBack and forth
B
64/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings21/25
Comeback12/20
Decided late13/15
Back-and-forth10/10
Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64
#11
AvalancheatSharks
NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
B
62/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings17/25
Comeback6/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth7/10
Overtime+8
Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62
#12
KingsatBucks
NBADown to the wireBig comeback
B
61/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings18/25
Comeback17/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61
#13
StarsatPanthers
NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
B
60/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings20/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth7/10
Overtime+8
Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60
#14
New MexicoatUNLV
CFBDown to the wire
B
60/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings24/25
Comeback10/20
Decided late13/15
Back-and-forth8/10
Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 60
#15
Washington StatOregon St
CFB· CBSDown to the wire
B
58/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings21/25
Comeback12/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth5/10
Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 58
#16
BlackhawksatOilers
NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
B
57/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings16/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth7/10
Overtime+8
Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57
#17
RangersatKraken
NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
B
55/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings14/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth7/10
Overtime+8
Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55
#18
C MichiganatW Michigan
CFB· ESPNUDown to the wire
B
55/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings15/25
Comeback12/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth8/10
Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 55
#19
Arizona StatIowa State
CFB· TNT/HBO Max
C+
55/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings16/25
Comeback13/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth5/10
Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 55
#20
TimberwolvesatHornets
NBABack and forth
C+
54/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension24/30
Swings20/25
Comeback9/20
Decided late11/15
Back-and-forth10/10
Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 54
#21
LouisvilleatVirginia Tech
CFB· CW
C+
53/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension26/30
Swings19/25
Comeback7/20
Decided late7/15
Back-and-forth5/10
Drama 65 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 53
#22
ArmyatAir Force
CFB· CBS/Paramount+Down to the wireBack and forth
C+
52/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings18/25
Comeback1/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth10/10
Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 52
#23
UABatUConn
CFB· CBSSNBig comeback
C+
47/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension5/30
Swings25/25
Comeback20/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Drama 68 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 47
#24
USCatNebraska
CFB· NBC
C
43/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension15/30
Swings17/25
Comeback10/20
Decided late4/15
Back-and-forth5/10
Drama 52 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 43
#25
VirginiaatCalifornia
CFB· ESPN2
C
42/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings10/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late10/15
Back-and-forth0/10
Drama 50 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 42
#26
LouisianaatSouth Alabama
CFB· ESPN+
C
40/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension24/30
Swings14/25
Comeback7/20
Decided late12/15
Back-and-forth0/10
Drama 57 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 40
#27
KentuckyatAuburn
CFB· SEC Network
C
36/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension20/30
Swings15/25
Comeback11/20
Decided late3/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Drama 51 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 36
#28
Georgia TechatNC State
CFB· ESPN2
D
34/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension8/30
Swings16/25
Comeback10/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth8/10
Drama 41 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 34
#29
BluesatBlue Jackets
NHL· ESPN+
D
33/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension20/30
Swings10/25
Comeback6/20
Decided late4/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Drama 44 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 33
#30
West VirginiaatHouston
CFB· FS1
D
32/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension4/30
Swings19/25
Comeback12/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 32

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.