NCAA Men's Basketball
Villanova fans wear team jerseys with the name of Pope Leo XIV before an NCAA college basketball game between Villanova Notre Dame 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.
