Villanova will begin the 2026-27 men’s and women’s basketball seasons in Rome with a doubleheader matchup against Notre Dame, writes Jeff Neiburg for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Fox will carry the men’s game nationally at 9:30 a.m., with the women’s matchup scheduled to air at noon on FS1.
The two universities were granted a special waiver to play on November 1, even though the college basketball season officially begins the following day.
“This is a special opportunity for our players and coaches to be part of a global event,” said Villanova men’s coach Kevin Willard. “To represent Villanova in Rome to open our season is such a great honor. We appreciate the enormous effort that’s gone into making it possible.”
The trip will include a welcome reception overlooking Rome, along with opportunities for attendees to take part in a shared Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica and a planned papal audience with Pope Leo XIV, himself a 1977 Villanova University graduate. Players will also take part in cultural and academic experiences, such as private tours of the Vatican Museums, along with additional programming before and after the games.
Read more about the Villanova Wildcats opening the 2026-27 basketball season in Rome in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Editor’s Note: This post was initially published on DELCO.Today in April 2026.
