diff --git a/app/games.py b/app/games.py
index 6e7f835..f409f26 100644
--- a/app/games.py
+++ b/app/games.py
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def parse_games(scoreboard_data):
                 "Hype Breakdown": {
                     "base": priority_comps["base"],
                     "time": priority_comps["time"],
-                    "matchup": priority_comps["matchup"],
+                    "matchup_bonus": priority_comps["matchup_bonus"],
                     "closeness": priority_comps["closeness"],
                     "power_play": priority_comps["power_play"],
                     "comeback": comeback,
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ def _priority_components(game):
     _zero = {
         "base": 0,
         "time": 0,
-        "matchup": 0,
+        "matchup_bonus": 0,
         "closeness": 0,
         "power_play": 0,
         "total": 0,
@@ -222,17 +222,20 @@ def _priority_components(game):
     # ── 2. Period length for time calculations ────────────────────────────
     period_length = (1200 if is_playoff else 300) if period >= 4 else 1200
 
-    # ── 3. Standings-quality matchup adjustment ───────────────────────────
+    # ── 3. Standings-quality matchup bonus ───────────────────────────────
+    # Invert rank so that #1 (best) contributes the most quality points.
+    # league_sequence 1=best, 32=worst → inverted: 32 quality pts for #1, 1 for #32.
     home_standings = get_team_standings(game["homeTeam"]["name"]["default"])
     away_standings = get_team_standings(game["awayTeam"]["name"]["default"])
-    home_total = (
-        home_standings["league_sequence"] + home_standings["league_l10_sequence"]
+    home_quality = (33 - home_standings["league_sequence"]) + (
+        33 - home_standings["league_l10_sequence"]
     )
-    away_total = (
-        away_standings["league_sequence"] + away_standings["league_l10_sequence"]
+    away_quality = (33 - away_standings["league_sequence"]) + (
+        33 - away_standings["league_l10_sequence"]
     )
+    # Higher period = matchup matters less (any OT is exciting regardless of teams)
     matchup_multiplier = {1: 2.0, 2: 1.65, 3: 1.50, 4: 1.0}.get(period, 1.0)
-    matchup_adjustment = (home_total + away_total) * matchup_multiplier
+    matchup_bonus = (home_quality + away_quality) * matchup_multiplier
 
     # ── 4. Score-differential penalty ────────────────────────────────────
     if score_difference > 3:
@@ -285,17 +288,17 @@ def _priority_components(game):
             pp_bonus = 30
 
     logger.debug(
-        "priority components — base: %s, time: %.0f, matchup: %.0f, "
+        "priority components — base: %s, time: %.0f, matchup_bonus: %.0f, "
         "closeness: %s, pp: %s",
         base_priority,
         time_priority,
-        matchup_adjustment,
+        matchup_bonus,
         closeness_bonus,
         pp_bonus,
     )
 
     final_priority = int(
-        base_priority + time_priority - matchup_adjustment + closeness_bonus + pp_bonus
+        base_priority + time_priority + matchup_bonus + closeness_bonus + pp_bonus
     )
 
     # Pushes intermission games to the bottom, retains relative sort order
@@ -305,7 +308,7 @@ def _priority_components(game):
     return {
         "base": base_priority,
         "time": int(time_priority),
-        "matchup": int(matchup_adjustment),
+        "matchup_bonus": int(matchup_bonus),
         "closeness": closeness_bonus,
         "power_play": pp_bonus,
         "total": final_priority,