Worth the replay?

Thursday, January 1'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
    Ole MissatGeorgia
    CFB· ESPNDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A+
    93/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95, estimated) = 93

  2. #2
    GA SouthernatCoastal
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  3. #3
    Portland StatWeber St
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  4. #4
    StetsonatNorth Alabama
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72

  5. #5
    FGCUatC Arkansas
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72

  6. #6
    ChattanoogaatUNC Greensboro
    CBB· ESPN+Down 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

  7. #7
    OaklandatYoungstown St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  8. #8
    UC San DiegoatCal Poly
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  9. #9
    JetsatMaple Leafs
    NHL· NHL NetDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

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

  10. #10
    LightningatKings
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

  11. #11
    E KentuckyatQueens
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

  12. #12
    Murray StatUIC
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

  13. #13
    IU IndyatN Kentucky
    CBB· ESPN+Big comeback
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension27/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

  14. #14
    Utah ValleyatTarleton St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

  15. #15
    CapitalsatSenators
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62

  16. #16
    Red WingsatPenguins
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

  17. #17
    W IllinoisatUT Martin
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  18. #18
    SamfordatVMI
    CBB· ESPN+
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension26/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

  19. #19
    CanadiensatHurricanes
    NHL· ESPN+Big comeback
    C+
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension23/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55

  20. #20
    HeatatPistons
    NBA
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension24/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 54

  21. #21
    BellarmineatWest Georgia
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  22. #22
    E IllinoisatSE Missouri
    CBB· ESPN+
    C+
    49/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 66 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 49

  23. #23
    CA BaptistatUT Arlington
    CBB· ESPN+
    C+
    48/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 64 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 48

  24. #24
    CelticsatKings
    NBABack and forth
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension29/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 63 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47

  25. #25
    MilwaukeeatWright St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 46

  26. #26
    ValparaisoatS Illinois
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    42/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension24/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 42

  27. #27
    BradleyatBelmont
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    41/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 55 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 41

  28. #28
    Oral RobertsatNorth Dakota
    CBB
    C
    38/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 50 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 38

  29. #29
    JazzatClippers
    NBA
    D
    35/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 35

  30. #30
    Green BayatPurdue FW
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension12/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 45 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

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.

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