Worth the replay?
Saturday, November 15'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 →- #1South CarolinaatTexas A&MCFB· ESPNBig comebackBack and forthA80/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension28/30Swings25/25Comeback19/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 80
- #2Georgia TechatBoston CollegeCFB· ACC NetworkDown to the wireBack and forthA76/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback12/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 76
- #3SabresatRed WingsNHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackA75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings24/25Comeback17/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth7/10Overtime+8Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
- #4North DakotaatUC RiversideCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback19/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
- #5OklahomaatAlabamaCFB· ABCDown to the wireB+73/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings16/25Comeback9/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95, estimated) = 73
- #6ETSUatNorth AlabamaCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackB+72/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback18/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72
- #7IowaatUSCCFB· BTNB+70/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension29/30Swings18/25Comeback9/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.95 (pre-game Watchability 90, estimated) = 70
- #8LibertyatFIUCFB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+70/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback18/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Overtime+8Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 70
- #9Utah StateatUNLVCFB· CBSSNOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+70/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback20/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Overtime+8Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 70
- #10MichiganatNorthwesternCFB· FoxDown to the wireBack and forthB+68/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings20/25Comeback7/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 68
- #11Southern UtahatOmahaCBBDown to the wireBack and forthB+68/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback11/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68
- #12ArizonaatCincinnatiCFB· FS1B+66/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings17/25Comeback14/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 66
- #13Utah ValleyatFresno StCBBDown to the wireBig comebackB+66/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings23/25Comeback15/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66
- #14IdahoatSacramento StCFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackB+66/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback19/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 66
- #15JacksonvilleatVMICBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackB+66/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback15/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66
- #16ButleratSMUCBB· CWDown to the wireB+65/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback12/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65
- #17Green BayatMinnesotaCBB· BTNOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forthB65/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings22/25Comeback2/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Overtime+8Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65
- #18IdahoatUC San DiegoCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireB63/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback10/20Decided late14/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63
- #19MemphisatEast CarolinaCFB· ESPNUDown to the wireBack and forthB63/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings22/25Comeback12/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 63
- #20Youngstown StatSt BonaventureCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forthB63/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings23/25Comeback6/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63
- #21UICatChicago StCBBDown to the wireBack and forthB62/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings24/25Comeback4/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62
- #22New MexicoatNew Mexico StCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireB62/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings19/25Comeback12/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62
- #23GrizzliesatCavaliersNBA· NBA TVDown to the wireBig comebackB62/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings21/25Comeback16/20Decided late11/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62
- #24N ColoradoatPepperdineCBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireB62/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings19/25Comeback5/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Overtime+8Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62
- #25DelawareatSam HoustonCFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackB61/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback15/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 61
- #26Little RockatBall StateCBB· ESPN+Big comebackB61/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension25/30Swings19/25Comeback15/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61
- #27South FloridaatNavyCFB· ESPN2B61/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension27/30Swings17/25Comeback14/20Decided late11/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 61
- #28ClemsonatGeorgetownCBB· PeacockDown to the wireB60/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings21/25Comeback13/20Decided late11/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60
- #29JetsatFlamesNHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forthB60/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings17/25Comeback0/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Overtime+8Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60
- #30Austin PeayatUNC GreensboroCBB· ESPN+Back and forthB59/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension22/30Swings23/25Comeback11/20Decided late13/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 59
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.