Worth the replay?

Saturday, October 24'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
    TennesseeatSouth Carolina
    CFB· ESPN/Disney+Down to the wireBig comeback
    A+
    93/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.98 (pre-game Watchability 96) = 93

  2. #2
    LightningatMammoth
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    A+
    88/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.96 (pre-game Watchability 93) = 88

  3. #3
    BYUatUCF
    CFB· FoxOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    A+
    87/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.89 (pre-game Watchability 79) = 87

  4. #4
    IowaatMinnesota
    CFB· FS1Down to the wire
    A
    83/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.94 (pre-game Watchability 89) = 83

  5. #5
    IndianaatMichigan
    CFB· FoxOvertimeDown to the wire
    A
    82/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.98 (pre-game Watchability 97) = 82

  6. #6
    BayloratKansas
    CFB· TNTDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    81/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.90 (pre-game Watchability 79) = 81

  7. #7
    SyracuseatNorth Carolina
    CFB· ACC NetworkOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    76/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.76 (pre-game Watchability 52) = 76

  8. #8
    Virginia TechatClemson
    CFB· ESPNDown to the wire
    B+
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.89 (pre-game Watchability 77) = 75

  9. #9
    SabresatCapitals
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    74/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.80 (pre-game Watchability 60) = 74

  10. #10
    HoustonatUtah
    CFB· ESPNDown to the wire
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.99 (pre-game Watchability 99) = 73

  11. #11
    HeatatHornets
    NBADown to the wire
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.85 (pre-game Watchability 70) = 67

  12. #12
    Kansas StatArizona St
    CFB· ESPN2
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.90 (pre-game Watchability 80) = 66

  13. #13
    West VirginiaatTCU
    CFB· ESPN2Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.74 (pre-game Watchability 47) = 65

  14. #14
    OregonatIllinois
    CFB· BTNDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.83 (pre-game Watchability 65) = 63

  15. #15
    PelicansatNuggets
    NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.61 (pre-game Watchability 21) = 61

  16. #16
    Miami OHatC Michigan
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.63 (pre-game Watchability 26) = 59

  17. #17
    Golden KnightsatBlue Jackets
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.81 (pre-game Watchability 61) = 59

  18. #18
    Utah StateatTexas St
    CFB· CBSSNDown to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.78 (pre-game Watchability 56) = 52

  19. #19
    W MichiganatToledo
    CFB· CBSSNDown to the wire
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 69 × pre-game weight 0.74 (pre-game Watchability 49) = 52

  20. #20
    LouisianaatSouthern Miss
    CFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.55 (pre-game Watchability 9) = 50

  21. #21
    E MichiganatOhio
    CFB· ESPNUDown to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.53 (pre-game Watchability 7) = 46

  22. #22
    SharksatBruins
    NHL· ESPN+Back and forth
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension17/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 63) = 46

  23. #23
    PredatorsatPenguins
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    C+
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.56 (pre-game Watchability 12) = 45

  24. #24
    Ole MissatTexas
    CFB· ABC
    C
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension17/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late3/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 45 × pre-game weight 0.99 (pre-game Watchability 99) = 45

  25. #25
    RiceatFAU
    CFB· ESPNUDown to the wire
    C
    42/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.54 (pre-game Watchability 8) = 42

  26. #26
    SpursatMavericks
    NBABack and forth
    C
    41/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 49 × pre-game weight 0.83 (pre-game Watchability 66) = 41

  27. #27
    DucksatFlyers
    NHL· NHL Net
    C
    40/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.60 (pre-game Watchability 20) = 40

  28. #28
    RocketsatHawks
    NBA
    C
    40/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension11/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 42 × pre-game weight 0.94 (pre-game Watchability 88) = 40

  29. #29
    UL MonroeatTroy
    CFB· ESPN+Big comeback
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension24/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.50 (pre-game Watchability 1) = 39

  30. #30
    Texas TechatCincinnati
    CFB· FS1Big comeback
    C
    38/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension7/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 45 × pre-game weight 0.84 (pre-game Watchability 68) = 38

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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