Pope Leo XIV inspires Notre Dame, Villanova to kick off 2026-27 college basketball season in Rome with men's, women's doubleheader
The teams will have the opportunity to attend a planned papal audience with Pope Leo XIV, who is notably a Villanova alumnus.
The 2026-27 college basketball season will start overseas, with Notre Dame and Villanova playing a men’s and women’s doubleheader in Rome on Nov. 1 in an event titled the “Eternal City Tip-Off,” the programs announced on Friday. In their releases, the Catholic schools stated the season-opening, Italian excursion is inspired by the recent election of Pope Leo XIV, who is notably a Villanova alumnus.
Pope Leo is the first American-born Pope, and his sports fandom is well-documented . The trip will include more than just the first game of the regular season for Notre Dame and Villanova student-athletes. They will be greeted at a welcome reception overlooking Rome, and they will have an opportunity to attend a shared Mass in St.
Peter’s Basilica, as well as a planned papal audience with Pope Leo. Other experiences, such as private Vatican Museum tours, will be available, too. Hoops season starts in Rome🇮🇹 The Eternal City Tip-Off is set @NDmbb & @ndwbb will open the 2026–27 season vs.
Villanova in Rome, Italy 🗓 Nov. 1, 2026 → https://t. co/haU4dibwcn #GoIrish ☘️ pic.