SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) – Notre Dame’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will tip off the 2026-27 season in Italy.
The university announced Friday that both Irish squads will take on Villanova in Rome in the Eternal City Tip-Off. The announcement comes two months after reports surfaced about the doubleheader being in the works.
The games will be played on Nov. 1, with the men’s game slated for 9:30 a.m. ET and the women’s game to follow at noon. The university said further details, including the event venue, will be released at a later date.
The two universities are prominent private Catholic schools and Pope Leo XIV is a Villanova alum. Notre Dame said a planned audience with Pope Leo is set to take place ahead of the games.
The season opener in Rome will mark the first regular-season game outside the United States in program history for the Notre Dame men’s team. The women’s team tipped off its 2023-24 season in Paris against South Carolina.
For more information about the Eternal City Tip-Off and to place a fully refundable Priority Access deposit to guarantee a spot at the event, visit eternalcitytip-off.com.
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