Worth the replay?

Saturday, October 10'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
    Virginia TechatCalifornia
    CFB· ACC NetworkDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A+
    92/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.92 (pre-game Watchability 85) = 92

  2. #2
    LSUatKentucky
    CFB· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A+
    90/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.90 (pre-game Watchability 80) = 90

  3. #3
    TexasatOklahoma
    CFB· ABCDown to the wireBig comeback
    A+
    89/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.93 (pre-game Watchability 87) = 89

  4. #4
    DukeatGeorgia Tech
    CFB· ESPN2Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A+
    85/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.91 (pre-game Watchability 82) = 85

  5. #5
    LouisianaatLouisiana Tech
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    79/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.79 (pre-game Watchability 58) = 79

  6. #6
    IndianaatNebraska
    CFB· FoxDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    77/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.88 (pre-game Watchability 75) = 77

  7. #7
    PistonsatWizards
    NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  8. #8
    GeorgiaatAlabama
    CFB· ABCDown to the wire
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.98 (pre-game Watchability 97) = 73

  9. #9
    UCLAatOregon
    CFB· CBSDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.86 (pre-game Watchability 72) = 72

  10. #10
    North CarolinaatPitt
    CFB· ESPNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.85 (pre-game Watchability 69) = 71

  11. #11
    TimberwolvesatHeat
    NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  12. #12
    TulaneatArmy
    CFB· CBSSNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.79 (pre-game Watchability 58) = 69

  13. #13
    IllinoisatMichigan St
    CFB· FS1OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.85 (pre-game Watchability 70) = 67

  14. #14
    76ersatCeltics
    NBA· NBA TVDown to the wire
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  15. #15
    PredatorsatSenators
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

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

  16. #16
    StarsatPenguins
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 59

  17. #17
    TennesseeatArkansas
    CFB· SEC NetworkDown to the wire
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 69 × pre-game weight 0.84 (pre-game Watchability 68) = 58

  18. #18
    TulsaatNavy
    CFB· CBSSNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40) = 57

  19. #19
    HawksatPacers
    NBADown to the wire
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

  20. #20
    N Dakota StatUNLV
    CFB· CW
    B
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.91 (pre-game Watchability 81) = 55

  21. #21
    Maple LeafsatAvalanche
    NHL· NHL NetBack and forth
    C+
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55

  22. #22
    KingsatWarriors
    NBA
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 54

  23. #23
    E MichiganatAkron
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.68 (pre-game Watchability 36) = 53

  24. #24
    USCatPenn State
    CFB· NBCBack and forth
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension16/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late3/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 53 × pre-game weight 0.95 (pre-game Watchability 90) = 50

  25. #25
    KingsatGolden Knights
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 50

  26. #26
    LightningatIslanders
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 66 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 50

  27. #27
    Blue JacketsatBlues
    NHL· ESPN+
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 66 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 50

  28. #28
    Old DominionatApp State
    CFB· ESPN+
    C+
    48/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.77 (pre-game Watchability 55) = 48

  29. #29
    Red WingsatCanadiens
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    C
    44/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings6/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 59 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 44

  30. #30
    Texas A&MatMissouri
    CFB· ABC/Disney+
    C
    43/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension8/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.94 (pre-game Watchability 88) = 43

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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