Worth the replay?

Saturday, October 3'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
    KentuckyatSouth Carolina
    CFB· SEC NetworkOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A+
    93/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.93 (pre-game Watchability 87) = 93

  2. #2
    Texas StatSan Diego St
    CFB· CWDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    84/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.90 (pre-game Watchability 81) = 84

  3. #3
    SyracuseatUConn
    CFB· CBSSNOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    78/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.78 (pre-game Watchability 56) = 78

  4. #4
    West VirginiaatIowa State
    CFB· TNTDown to the wireBack and forth
    A
    77/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.87 (pre-game Watchability 75) = 77

  5. #5
    WashingtonatUSC
    CFB· NBCDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    74/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.91 (pre-game Watchability 82) = 74

  6. #6
    MichiganatMinnesota
    CFB· FoxBig comeback
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension29/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.94 (pre-game Watchability 87) = 73

  7. #7
    KingsatSharks
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68

  8. #8
    CanadiensatPenguins
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68

  9. #9
    LouisvilleatNC State
    CFB· ACC NetworkDown to the wire
    B
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.90 (pre-game Watchability 80) = 65

  10. #10
    HurricanesatFlyers
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

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

  11. #11
    TempleatSouth Florida
    CFB· ESPNUDown to the wire
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.66 (pre-game Watchability 33) = 54

  12. #12
    Bowling GreenatMiami OH
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.57 (pre-game Watchability 13) = 53

  13. #13
    BlackhawksatSabres
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 69 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 52

  14. #14
    PurdueatIllinois
    CFB· BTN
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension26/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 63 × pre-game weight 0.81 (pre-game Watchability 61) = 50

  15. #15
    CaliforniaatUNLV
    CFB· CBSSN
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension18/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 58 × pre-game weight 0.87 (pre-game Watchability 74) = 50

  16. #16
    W MichiganatBuffalo
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.62 (pre-game Watchability 24) = 50

  17. #17
    AuburnatTennessee
    CFB· ESPN
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 54 × pre-game weight 0.87 (pre-game Watchability 74) = 47

  18. #18
    BYUatTCU
    CFB· ESPN/Disney+
    C+
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 53 × pre-game weight 0.86 (pre-game Watchability 73) = 45

  19. #19
    OhioatKent State
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    C
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.62 (pre-game Watchability 24) = 45

  20. #20
    Arkansas StatLouisiana
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    C
    44/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.62 (pre-game Watchability 24) = 44

  21. #21
    UCFatHouston
    CFB· ESPN2Big comeback
    C
    44/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension18/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late3/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.73 (pre-game Watchability 46) = 44

  22. #22
    San José StatHawai'i
    CFB· MW+Down to the wire
    C
    43/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 68 × pre-game weight 0.64 (pre-game Watchability 27) = 43

  23. #23
    SenatorsatMaple Leafs
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    42/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 57 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 42

  24. #24
    KrakenatOilers
    NHL· NHL NetDown to the wire
    C
    42/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 57 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 42

  25. #25
    FlamesatCanucks
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    37/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 49 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 37

  26. #26
    UTSAatRice
    CFB· ESPN+
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 55 × pre-game weight 0.61 (pre-game Watchability 23) = 34

  27. #27
    FloridaatMissouri
    CFB· ABC
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 35 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95) = 34

  28. #28
    StarsatPredators
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    33/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings5/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 45 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 33

  29. #29
    ArmyatLouisiana Tech
    CFB· ESPN+
    D
    32/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension13/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 40 × pre-game weight 0.81 (pre-game Watchability 62) = 32

  30. #30
    NavyatAir Force
    CFB· CBS
    D
    32/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 40 × pre-game weight 0.80 (pre-game Watchability 61) = 32

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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