The result didn’t help Drinkwitz’s memory either. The Tigers came back to force overtime, but were defeated 41-34, only to see thousands of Boston College fans storm the court.

“That game was tough for a lot of reasons,” said Drinkwitz, whose No. 6 Tigers get the return leg against the No. 24 Eagles on Saturday. “I didn’t think we played particularly well. There was a lot of noise around that game because of comments I made. I learned a hard lesson there as a head coach. And obviously the emotional swings — we came back, tied it, they scored in overtime, we threw an interception in overtime. The first time I’ve ever had a crowd storm the field.”

Today, the circumstances in both schools are very different.

The Tigers (2-0) were still in rebuilding mode then, but they are now in the College Football Playoff conversation. They won 11 games last year and have not given up a single point in two games this season, a first for the program since 1935.

Boston College (2-0) is different, too. Bill O’Brien is back in college football after serving as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator last season, and the former Penn State coach has already engineered a road win over Florida State and a rout of Duquesne.

“This is the best team we’ve played. There’s no doubt about it. Probably the best team we’ve played in BC in a number of years, to be honest with you,” O’Brien said. “When you win a couple games, every game becomes more important. I think that’s the cool thing about college football. … That’s what these guys have to understand. Every game gets harder.”

Health check

Missouri receiver Luther Burden III, who left last week’s game in the second quarter with an illness, and fellow wide receiver Theo Wease Jr., who had 10 catches for 149 yards despite a sore hip, are both probable, Drinkwitz said this week. Tight end Brett Norfleet (shoulder) and cornerback Ja’Marion Wayne (hamstring) were questionable.

View poll

Boston College landed in the AP Top 25 this week for the first time since Nov. 11, 2018. It’s the earliest the college has appeared on the list in a season since 2005, when it was ranked No. 22 in the preseason poll.

“This show has won,” O’Brien reminded reporters this week. “It’s not like this show hasn’t won before.”

Known enemy

Boston College running back Treshaun Ward played last season for Kansas State, which lost to the Tigers at Faurot Field on a 61-yard field goal as time expired. Ward has carried 20 times for 132 yards and a touchdown so far this season.

Think and dunk

Missouri has one of the deepest wide receiver groups in the SEC, especially when Burden and Wease are at full speed. Opponents have taken notice, forcing quarterback Brady Cook into short passing plays instead of deep shots down the field.

“Teams don’t really want to give up explosive plays against our wide receiver corps, so we have to be willing to let them defend us in a different way,” Drinkwitz said. “Our offensive staff has done a good job of figuring out what their defensive plan is for us, and then finding something — whether it was in the game plan or not — that beats this or that.”

In the Spotlight: Columbia

The Boston College-Missouri game is the only Saturday where two ranked teams face off, though No. 20 Arizona travels to No. 14 Kansas State on Friday night. That means a lot of attention will be focused on Columbia, where the Tigers have won 18 straight home games, tying the school record set from 2005-12.

“We need every advantage we can get,” Drinkwitz said. “This is a very good football team. They’re obviously battle-tested, with their win over Florida State, and they’re very polished as a team.”