Worth the replay?

Saturday, September 26'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
    IowaatMichigan
    CFB· CBSBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    80/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.83 (pre-game Watchability 67) = 80

  2. #2
    Air ForceatNevada
    CFB· FS1OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    80/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.80 (pre-game Watchability 60) = 80

  3. #3
    MissouriatMississippi St
    CFB· SEC NetworkDown to the wire
    A
    80/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.94 (pre-game Watchability 88) = 80

  4. #4
    Gardner-WebbatMarshall
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  5. #5
    WisconsinatPenn State
    CFB· PeacockBig comeback
    B+
    74/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.86 (pre-game Watchability 71) = 74

  6. #6
    Georgia TechatStanford
    CFB· ESPNBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension26/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.83 (pre-game Watchability 66) = 70

  7. #7
    Wake ForestatLouisville
    CFB· ESPN/Disney+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 51) = 66

  8. #8
    KrakenatCanucks
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

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

  9. #9
    LightningatPanthers
    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

  10. #10
    Kansas StatCincinnati
    CFB· ESPN2
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension27/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 69 × pre-game weight 0.90 (pre-game Watchability 80) = 62

  11. #11
    Kennesaw StatArkansas St
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.78 (pre-game Watchability 55) = 62

  12. #12
    UConnatMiami OH
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.68 (pre-game Watchability 36) = 58

  13. #13
    Virginia TechatBoston College
    CFB· ACC NetworkDown to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50) = 57

  14. #14
    OregonatUSC
    CFB· NBCBack and forth
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 94) = 54

  15. #15
    TexasatTennessee
    CFB· ABC
    C+
    49/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension24/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 53 × pre-game weight 0.92 (pre-game Watchability 84) = 49

  16. #16
    Southern MissatTulane
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.53 (pre-game Watchability 5) = 45

  17. #17
    Oklahoma StatWest Virginia
    CFB· FS1Big comeback
    C
    44/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension11/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 50 × pre-game weight 0.87 (pre-game Watchability 74) = 44

  18. #18
    CanadiensatSenators
    NHL
    C
    43/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 57 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 43

  19. #19
    TCUatUCF
    CFB· FS1
    C
    41/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension16/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late3/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.91 (pre-game Watchability 82) = 41

  20. #20
    SenatorsatCanadiens
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    41/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

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

  21. #21
    MinnesotaatWashington
    CFB· Fox
    C
    38/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension17/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 43 × pre-game weight 0.89 (pre-game Watchability 78) = 38

  22. #22
    SharksatGolden Knights
    NHL· NHL Net
    C
    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 48 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36

  23. #23
    Hawai'iatWyoming
    CFB· CW
    D
    33/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension15/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 43 × pre-game weight 0.77 (pre-game Watchability 53) = 33

  24. #24
    ArizonaatWashington St
    CFB· CBS
    D
    32/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension8/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 36 × pre-game weight 0.90 (pre-game Watchability 79) = 32

  25. #25
    App StateatNC State
    CFB· ESPNU
    D
    27/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension27/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 50 × pre-game weight 0.54 (pre-game Watchability 9) = 27

  26. #26
    ColoradoatBaylor
    CFB· ESPN2Back and forth
    D
    26/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension9/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late3/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 33 × pre-game weight 0.80 (pre-game Watchability 59) = 26

  27. #27
    TroyatUtah State
    CFB· CBSSN
    D
    23/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension8/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 35 × pre-game weight 0.65 (pre-game Watchability 31) = 23

  28. #28
    PenguinsatSabres
    NHL· NHL Net
    D
    21/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 29 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 21

  29. #29
    DucksatKings
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    21/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension1/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 28 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 21

  30. #30
    Colorado StatUTSA
    CFB· ESPNU
    D
    20/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension10/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.67 (pre-game Watchability 34) = 20

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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