Worth the replay?

1. #1

   ArmyatTemple

   CFB· ESPNDown to the wire

   B

   60/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback9/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.74 (pre-game Watchability 47) = 60

2. #2

   NavyatUAB

   CFB· ESPNDown to the wireBack and forth

   C+

   49/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback13/20

   Decided late12/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.57 (pre-game Watchability 14) = 49

3. #3

   ClemsonatCalifornia

   CFB· ESPN

   C

   44/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late7/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 48 × pre-game weight 0.91 (pre-game Watchability 82) = 44

4. #4

   NorthwesternatIndiana

   CFB· Fox

   D

   27/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension22/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late10/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 41 × pre-game weight 0.66 (pre-game Watchability 32) = 27

5. #5

   HowardatRutgers

   CFB· BTNOne-sided

   D

   2/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings0/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 3 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 2

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.