Worth the replay?

1. #1

   IndianaatOhio State

   CFB· FoxDown to the wire

   B+

   73/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late13/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95, estimated) = 73

2. #2

   DukeatVirginia

   CFB· ABCOvertimeDown to the wire

   B+

   72/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback7/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 72

3. #3

   Illinois StatN Dakota St

   CFB· ESPN+Big comeback

   B

   61/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension28/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback20/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 61

4. #4

   BYUatTexas Tech

   CFB· ABCOne-sided

   D

   14/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings10/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 15 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95, estimated) = 14

5. #5

   GeorgiaatAlabama

   CFB· ABCOne-sided

   D

   9/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension2/30

   Swings7/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95, estimated) = 9

6. #6

   Miami OHatW Michigan

   CFB· ESPNOne-sided

   D

   7/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings6/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 7

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.