Worth the replay?

1. #1

   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

2. #2

   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

3. #3

   NorthwesternatUSC

   CFB· FoxOne-sided

   D

   8/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings2/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 8

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.