Notre Dame, Villanova to Play Rome Doubleheader

Notre Dame and Villanova, two prominent Catholic universities, will face off in a men's and women's basketball doubleheader in Rome, Italy, on November 1 to kick off the 2026-27 season, an event inspired by the recent election of Pope Leo XIV, a Villanova alumnus.

The matchup, dubbed the Eternal City Tip-Off, marks the first international season opener for a men's Division I team and the first such game played in Italy. The NCAA granted special approval for the event to begin a day before the official season start on November 2. Officials from both schools described the doubleheader as a celebration of their shared Catholic mission and heritage, blending athletics with academic and spiritual elements. Attendees will participate in a shared Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, a papal audience with Pope Leo XIV and private tours of the Vatican Museums.

"This journey offers a profound opportunity to grow in mind, body and spirit," said the Rev. Peter Donohue, president of Villanova, highlighting the integration of cultural immersion, worship and competition.

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, graduated from Villanova in 1977 with a degree in mathematics before joining...