With the way the Notre Dame basketball season has gone, it's understandable to look ahead to next season. A matchup in Rome, against Villanova, in front of the Pope, adds some excitement for the 2026-2027 season.
On Tuesday night, CBS Sports' Matt Norlander announced the rather unusual matchup, which is indeed a clash of Catholicism. The plan won't just affect Micah Shrewsberry's squad but will also feature the women's basketball teams from both Notre Dame and Villanova.
Both Notre Dame and Villanova have been given special clearance by the NCAA to open the season in Rome for a doubleheader on Sunday, November 1. College basketball's official start to the season is Monday, November 2. Still, the NCAA quietly approved a waiver in January to allow the teams a one-day head start, given the historic precedent of the games.
Notre Dame basketball set to take on Villanova to open the season in Rome next fall
There are still some details to be worked out, but Norlander said Fox is set to broadcast both the men's and women's games. The men's game — which Norlander said is "believed to be the first season-opener on foreign soil and the first regular season Division I basketball competition in Italy"- will air ahead of the network's Sunday NFL contests. The women's game will air immediately following the men's game on Fox Sports 1.
The reason why these two teams are getting special dispensation is a rather obvious one, since both schools are famously of a Catholic bent. Pope Leo XIV is actually an alumnus of the Wildcats and will likely be rooting for his former school. However, it stands to reason he won't be all that heartbroken if Notre Dame wins either or both of the games.