Worth the replay?

Saturday, September 19'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
    LSUatOle Miss
    CFB· ABCDown to the wire
    A
    77/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95, estimated) = 77

  2. #2
    TempleatToledo
    CFB· CBSSNOvertimeDown 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
    Maple LeafsatCanadiens
    NHL· NHL NetOvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70

  4. #4
    NC StateatVanderbilt
    CFB· SEC NetworkDown 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

  5. #5
    SMUatLouisville
    CFB· ESPN2Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.95 (pre-game Watchability 90, estimated) = 68

  6. #6
    BlackhawksatWild
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

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

  7. #7
    Miami OHatCincinnati
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 62

  8. #8
    East CarolinaatOld Dominion
    CFB· ESPN+Back and forth
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  9. #9
    GA SouthernatJax State
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 59

  10. #10
    North CarolinaatClemson
    CFB· ESPNEWS/Disney+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  11. #11
    NevadaatMTSU
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 56

  12. #12
    West VirginiaatVirginia
    CFB· ACC NetworkBig comeback
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 65 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 53

  13. #13
    MarshallatMissouri St
    CFB· CBSSNDown to the wire
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  14. #14
    FIUatFAU
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    48/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 69 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 48

  15. #15
    Golden KnightsatKings
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 46

  16. #16
    North TexasatTexas St
    CFB· USA NetBack and forth
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension15/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 39

  17. #17
    CoastalatDelaware
    CFB· CBSSNDown to the wire
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 39

  18. #18
    CanadiensatMaple Leafs
    NHL
    D
    32/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 43 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 32

  19. #19
    KentuckyatTexas A&M
    CFB· ESPNBig comeback
    D
    31/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 31

  20. #20
    Florida StatAlabama
    CFB· ESPN2
    D
    30/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 36 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 30

  21. #21
    Mississippi StatSouth Carolina
    CFB· SEC NetworkBig comeback
    D
    28/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 40 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 28

  22. #22
    Fresno StatSan José St
    CFB· FS1
    D
    27/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 39 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 27

  23. #23
    SE LouisianaatUL Monroe
    CFB· ESPN+
    D
    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension16/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 36 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 25

  24. #24
    South DakotaatBoise St
    CFB· CBSSN
    D
    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings6/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late2/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 35 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 25

  25. #25
    StarsatBlues
    NHL
    D
    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings4/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 32 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 24

  26. #26
    Arizona StatKansas
    CFB· FS1
    D
    20/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension7/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 29 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 20

  27. #27
    PurdueatUCLA
    CFB· BTNBack and forth
    D
    18/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 18

  28. #28
    W MichiganatRice
    CFB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    17/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension9/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 24 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 17

  29. #29
    CanucksatKraken
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    16/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension12/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 21 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 16

  30. #30
    JetsatOilers
    NHLOne-sided
    D
    16/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 21 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 16

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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