Worth the replay?

Saturday, November 22'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
    Kansas StatUtah
    CFB· ESPN2Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    81/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 81

  2. #2
    Blue JacketsatRed Wings
    NHL· NHL NetOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

  3. #3
    IonaatOregon St
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

  4. #4
    Northern IowaatUC Irvine
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

  5. #5
    UT Rio GrandeatMissouri St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

  6. #6
    KrakenatPenguins
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70

  7. #7
    Morehead StatUL Monroe
    CBBDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70

  8. #8
    LibertyatLouisiana Tech
    CFB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

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

  9. #9
    New Mexico StatUTEP
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 69

  10. #10
    St ThomasatFullerton
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  11. #11
    N ColoradoatPortland
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

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

  12. #12
    UT MartinatPrairie View
    CBBDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  13. #13
    Golden KnightsatDucks
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ 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) = 69

  14. #14
    TulsaatArmy
    CFB· CBSSNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 68

  15. #15
    KingsatNuggets
    NBABig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68

  16. #16
    WizardsatBulls
    NBADown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68

  17. #17
    UT ArlingtonatWeber St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67

  18. #18
    UConnatFAU
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 66

  19. #19
    UMass LowellatSaint Peter's
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66

  20. #20
    Michigan StatIowa
    CFB· FS1Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 66

  21. #21
    HarvardatBoston U
    CBBDown to the wire
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66

  22. #22
    MinnesotaatNorthwestern
    CFB· BTNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 65

  23. #23
    MarshallatApp State
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 63

  24. #24
    Missouri StatKennesaw St
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 63

  25. #25
    Green BayatUMass
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62

  26. #26
    GrizzliesatMavericks
    NBADown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

  27. #27
    NortheasternatDuquesne
    CBBDown to the wire
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 59

  28. #28
    Jax StateatFIU
    CFB· CBSSNDown to the wire
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 59

  29. #29
    StarsatFlames
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 59

  30. #30
    Sacramento StatUC Davis
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 58

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.

Get the weekend's best games every Friday

The most watchable games across every sport, what's at stake in the playoff races, and last week's best games, spoiler-free. Free, one email a week.

Sports you care about