Worth the replay?

1. #1

   LouisianaatDelaware

   CFB· ESPN

   C+

   50/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 50

2. #2

   Old DominionatSouth Florida

   CFB· ESPN

   C

   40/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension18/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

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

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.