Worth the replay?

1. #1

   BuffaloatMiami OH

   CFB· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   B

   56/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings21/25

   Comeback20/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.57 (pre-game Watchability 14) = 56

2. #2

   OhioatAkron

   CFB· ESPN2Down to the wireBack and forth

   D

   33/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late11/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 65 × pre-game weight 0.51 (pre-game Watchability 2) = 33

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.