Worth the replay?

Friday, November 7'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
    NortheasternatColgate
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  2. #2
    VMIatS Indiana
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

  3. #3
    RaptorsatHawks
    NBABig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

  4. #4
    UICatOregon St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B+
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

  5. #5
    RocketsatSpurs
    NBA· Prime VideoBig comeback
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

  6. #6
    HoustonatUCF
    CFB· FS1Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 60

  7. #7
    WinthropatGeorge Mason
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

  8. #8
    SE MissouriatMissouri
    CBB· SECN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55

  9. #9
    TulaneatMemphis
    CFB· ESPNDown to the wire
    C+
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 55

  10. #10
    NichollsatE Illinois
    CBB· ESPN+Big comeback
    C+
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55

  11. #11
    VCUatUtah State
    CBBDown to the wire
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53

  12. #12
    BucknellatMount St Marys
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53

  13. #13
    TroyatFurman
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 70 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53

  14. #14
    CelticsatMagic
    NBADown to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 69 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 52

  15. #15
    Youngstown StatGrand Canyon
    CBBBig comeback
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension18/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 68 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51

  16. #16
    BullsatBucks
    NBA
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension26/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  17. #17
    StonehillatDePaul
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    48/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  18. #18
    JetsatSharks
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 46

  19. #19
    RiceatOregon
    CBB· B1G+Back and forth
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 46

  20. #20
    Tennessee TechatCharlotte
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    43/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 57 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 43

  21. #21
    CornellatKent State
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    41/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  22. #22
    Wilmington DEatDelaware
    CBB· ESPN+Big comebackBack and forth
    C
    40/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension7/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 53 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40

  23. #23
    CA BaptistatUC Irvine
    CBB· ESPN+Big comeback
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 52 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 39

  24. #24
    GeorgetownatMaryland
    CBB· FS1Big comeback
    C
    38/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension14/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 51 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 38

  25. #25
    KansasatNorth Carolina
    CBB· ESPNBig comeback
    C
    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 48 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36

  26. #26
    Idaho StatSan Diego
    CBB· ESPN+Big comeback
    C
    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension8/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 47 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36

  27. #27
    SC StateatSamford
    CBB· ESPN+Back and forth
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension14/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

  28. #28
    Green BayatBuffalo
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension17/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late3/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 45 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

  29. #29
    SIUEatUTSA
    CBB· ESPN+Big comeback
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension7/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 45 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

  30. #30
    ThunderatKings
    NBA
    D
    32/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 43 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, 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.

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