Worth the replay?

Saturday, September 5'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
    W MichiganatMichigan
    CFB· NBCDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    78/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 78

  2. #2
    The CitadelatCharlotte
    CFB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  3. #3
    Idaho StatUtah State
    CFB· CBSSNBig comebackBack and forth
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 54

  4. #4
    UCLAatCalifornia
    CFB· ESPN
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 50

  5. #5
    Boise StatOregon
    CFB· CBSBack and forth
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 57 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 47

  6. #6
    BayloratAuburn
    CFB· ABC/Disney+Down to the wire
    C+
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 64 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 45

  7. #7
    Tarleton StatBowling Green
    CFB· ESPN+
    C
    44/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 63 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 44

  8. #8
    Oklahoma StatTulsa
    CFB· ESPNU
    C
    37/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension18/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 53 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 37

  9. #9
    S Dakota StatNorthwestern
    CFB· BTN
    D
    31/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension27/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 44 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 31

  10. #10
    Arkansas StatMemphis
    CFB· ESPN+Back and forth
    D
    18/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 26 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 18

  11. #11
    UNLVatHawai'i
    CFB· CWOne-sided
    D
    17/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension9/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late2/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 17

  12. #12
    OhioatNebraska
    CFB· FS1One-sided
    D
    16/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 23 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 16

  13. #13
    WyomingatColorado St
    CFB· USA NetOne-sided
    D
    14/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 21 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 14

  14. #14
    Western KYatNevada
    CFB· CBSSNOne-sided
    D
    14/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 20 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 14

  15. #15
    LibertyatJames Madison
    CFB· ESPNUOne-sided
    D
    14/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension13/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 20 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 14

  16. #16
    Sam HoustonatTroy
    CFB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    14/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 19 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 14

  17. #17
    Oregon StatHouston
    CFB· ESPNEWS/Disney+One-sided
    D
    13/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension10/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 15 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 13

  18. #18
    ClemsonatLSU
    CFB· ABCOne-sided
    D
    12/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 12

  19. #19
    Norfolk StatOld Dominion
    CFB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 15 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 10

  20. #20
    Alcorn StatSouthern Miss
    CFB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 10

  21. #21
    TulaneatDuke
    CFB· ACC Network/ACCNXOne-sided
    D
    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings5/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 13 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 9

  22. #22
    Rhode IslandatTemple
    CFB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings7/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 12 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 9

  23. #23
    North AlabamaatArkansas
    CFB· SEC NetworkOne-sided
    D
    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 11 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 8

  24. #24
    HamptonatMaryland
    CFB· BTNOne-sided
    D
    8/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 11 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 8

  25. #25
    FurmanatTennessee
    CFB· SECN+One-sided
    D
    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 9 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 7

  26. #26
    Charleston SoatGA Southern
    CFB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  27. #27
    NichollsatKansas St
    CFB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  28. #28
    Murray StatMTSU
    CFB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  29. #29
    Hou ChristianatRice
    CFB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    6/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings5/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 8 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 6

  30. #30
    MercyhurstatNew Mexico St
    CFB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    5/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 8 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 5

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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