Inside Villanova And Notre Dame's 'Once-In-An-Eternity' Basketball Games In Rome

Villanova and Notre Dame will open their 2026-27 seasons in Rome — a rare regular-season overseas tipoff (men’s on FOX, women’s on FS1).
The trip includes a Mass at St. Peter’s and an audience with Pope Leo XIV, who is a Villanova alumnus and Augustinian — a big faith-and-sports crossover.
Organizers spent 18 months navigating logistics and NCAA waivers; players will also tour the Colosseum, take a cooking class and enjoy a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.