Italy NCAA Villanova Notre Dame Basketball
Villanova's players warm up before their game against Notre Dame in the men's Eternal City Tip-Off, a men's and women's college basketball doubleheader organized to honor the first American pope and mark the opening of the NCAA season in Rome, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026.
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Villanova had the pope’s support and many more traveling fans. Notre Dame prevailed on the court. The Fighting Irish produced a late comeback for a 74-72 win in the men’s game that opened the college basketball season in Rome. Then Hannah Hidalgo starred as the No. 13 Notre Dame women won to complete a sweep of Pope Leo’s alma mater, beating Villanova 99-75. The Eternal City Tip-Off between the two Catholic universities was created to honor the first American pope, who was not in attendance for the games. But Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV did receive all four teams in an audience at the Vatican on Saturday.
