Notre Dame and Villanova will kick off the 2026-27 college basketball season in Rome, approximately 4,500 miles from their home campuses. The men’s and women’s teams from both schools will participate in an international doubleheader named the “Eternal City Tip-Off” on November 1. The games will be nationally broadcast on Fox Sports, with the men's game scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET on Fox, followed by the women's game at noon on FS1. The early start times reflect the six-hour time difference, meaning the games will occur in the afternoon and evening in Rome.
Read More
The doubleheader will take place at the 3,500-seat Palazzetto dello Sport, bringing together two prominent Catholic universities in a city rich in religious and historical significance. Organizers have emphasized this backdrop in promoting the event.
Notably, the trip holds additional significance because of Pope Leo XIV, a graduate of Villanova and the first American-born pope. Following his election last year, attention surrounding his alma mater has grown. Student-athletes from both schools are expected to meet with the pope prior to the games, a unique opportunity for college athletes to engage with the pontiff before starting their season.
Earlier this year, the pope expressed the importance of athletics in a letter titled “Life in Abundance,” discussing how sports can foster trust, sacrifice, and a sense of community. This aligns with how both universities are framing the trip as a blend of faith, culture, and competition. Villanova President Rev. Peter M. Donohue highlighted this broader significance, stating, “This event is far more than a pair of games. It offers our student-athletes and communities the chance to witness how sport can inspire unity, shared purpose and compassion.”
The doubleheader will serve as the official season opener for both programs, marking a departure from the traditional home crowd experience. International openers are becoming increasingly common in American sports, with teams often traveling abroad for exhibition or regular-season games in various countries. However, a combined men's and women's NCAA basketball event in Rome, with direct Vatican involvement, is particularly noteworthy.
The choice of opponents also lends itself to the event's appeal. Notre Dame and Villanova both boast rich NCAA Tournament histories and dedicated fan bases, ensuring a national audience despite the early morning hour in the U.S. Their shared Catholic identity makes this matchup meaningful in the context of faith and athletics, rather than just a routine non-conference game. Rev. Robert A. Dowd, President of Notre Dame, pointed out the university’s established connections to Rome, where it has operated an academic center since 2014. Dowd said, “We are honored to join Villanova for what is sure to be the experience of a lifetime for our student-athletes and fans.”