Worth the replay?

1. #1

   James MadisonatApp State

   CFB· ESPNUOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   B+

   66/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings24/25

   Comeback18/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.66 (pre-game Watchability 33) = 66

2. #2

   East CarolinaatMemphis

   CFB· ESPN2OvertimeDown to the wire

   B+

   66/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback13/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.71 (pre-game Watchability 43) = 66

3. #3

   LibertyatKennesaw St

   CFB· CBSSNOne-sided

   D

   2/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings3/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 3 × pre-game weight 0.69 (pre-game Watchability 37) = 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.