Worth the replay?

Saturday, October 17'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
    North CarolinaatDuke
    CFB· ESPN2Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    85/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.90 (pre-game Watchability 80) = 85

  2. #2
    Notre DameatBYU
    CFB· ABCDown to the wireBack and forth
    A
    85/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 94) = 85

  3. #3
    KentuckyatOklahoma
    CFB· SEC NetworkDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    83/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.93 (pre-game Watchability 86) = 83

  4. #4
    CincinnatiatWest Virginia
    CFB· TNTDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    83/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.89 (pre-game Watchability 78) = 83

  5. #5
    AuburnatGeorgia
    CFB· ESPNDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    79/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.84 (pre-game Watchability 69) = 79

  6. #6
    FloridaatTexas
    CFB· ABCDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    79/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.93 (pre-game Watchability 87) = 79

  7. #7
    Florida StatMiami
    CFB· ESPN/Disney+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    A
    76/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.76 (pre-game Watchability 53) = 76

  8. #8
    Ohio StateatIndiana
    CFB· Fox
    A
    76/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 76 × pre-game weight 1.00 (pre-game Watchability 99) = 76

  9. #9
    NorthwesternatMichigan St
    CFB· PeacockDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.80 (pre-game Watchability 61) = 75

  10. #10
    NebraskaatOregon
    CFB· FoxDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.88 (pre-game Watchability 77) = 75

  11. #11
    SharksatRed Wings
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40) = 70

  12. #12
    Fresno StatSan Diego St
    CFB· CBSSNDown to the wire
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.81 (pre-game Watchability 63) = 67

  13. #13
    ArkansasatVanderbilt
    CFB· ESPN2
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension24/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.92 (pre-game Watchability 83) = 66

  14. #14
    SabresatCanadiens
    NHL· NHL NetOvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.73 (pre-game Watchability 46) = 62

  15. #15
    NavyatUTSA
    CFB· ESPNUDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.73 (pre-game Watchability 46) = 59

  16. #16
    Ball StateatBowling Green
    CFB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.56 (pre-game Watchability 12) = 56

  17. #17
    RutgersatMaryland
    CFB· BTNBig comeback
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension26/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.69 (pre-game Watchability 37) = 56

  18. #18
    PittatBoston College
    CFB· ESPN2Big comeback
    C+
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension29/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.74 (pre-game Watchability 48) = 55

  19. #19
    BruinsatKings
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.87 (pre-game Watchability 73) = 54

  20. #20
    Penn StateatMichigan
    CFB· CBS
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension29/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.85 (pre-game Watchability 70) = 52

  21. #21
    UMassatBuffalo
    CFB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.53 (pre-game Watchability 6) = 51

  22. #22
    KansasatKansas St
    CFB· FS1Back and forth
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension15/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late3/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.89 (pre-game Watchability 78) = 50

  23. #23
    CharlotteatTemple
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.53 (pre-game Watchability 5) = 46

  24. #24
    UtahatColorado
    CFB· ESPN
    C+
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 55 × pre-game weight 0.83 (pre-game Watchability 65) = 45

  25. #25
    RangersatBlue Jackets
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    C
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.74 (pre-game Watchability 47) = 45

  26. #26
    New MexicoatHawai'i
    CFB· FS1
    C
    41/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 60 × pre-game weight 0.68 (pre-game Watchability 36) = 41

  27. #27
    SenatorsatFlyers
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    38/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension23/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.68 (pre-game Watchability 37) = 38

  28. #28
    LouisvilleatSyracuse
    CFB· ACC NetworkBack and forth
    D
    33/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension18/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late3/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 44 × pre-game weight 0.76 (pre-game Watchability 52) = 33

  29. #29
    UNLVatAir Force
    CFB· CBSSNBack and forth
    D
    33/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.87 (pre-game Watchability 75) = 33

  30. #30
    Oklahoma StatHouston
    CFB· Fox
    D
    31/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late2/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 33 × pre-game weight 0.95 (pre-game Watchability 90) = 31

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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