The 2026-27 NCAA men's basketball season tips off Sunday with a landmark game between Villanova and Notre Dame at Palazzo dello Sport in Rome, Italy. The NCAA granted a special waiver in January allowing the season to begin one day earlier than usual for this transatlantic showdown, which CBS Sports' Matt Norlander first reported earlier this year. Immediately after the men's contest, the Notre Dame and Villanova women's teams will also face off.
Historic First in Italy
The matchup is believed to be the first men's season opener played on foreign soil and the first regular-season Division I basketball game in Italy. Plans were announced nearly 10 months ago. The venue, Palazzetto dello Sport, has a capacity of approximately 3,500 for basketball and dates back to the 1950s.
Catholic Connections and Papal Audience
Both universities are prominent private Catholic institutions with ties to Pope Leo XIV. Robert Francis Prevost, the Pope's birth name, is a 1977 Villanova alumnus, while Notre Dame is regarded as the world's most prominent Catholic university and maintains an outpost in Rome. The arena sits about 30 minutes from the Vatican, and it remains unclear whether the Pope will attend. On Saturday, the Pope held a private audience with all four teams and traveling fans, with roughly 7,000 people expected in the Paul VI audience hall.
Notre Dame's Roster Overhaul
Notre Dame enters the season after a significant roster turnover. The Fighting Irish lost their three leading scorers from last season — Markus Burton, Jalen Haralson, and Cole Certa — to the transfer portal. The program is on the verge of its longest NCAA Tournament drought since the 1990s, placing pressure on head coach Micah Shrewsberry heading into his fourth year.
Villanova's Italian Connection
Villanova, which won 24 games last season, also lost star point guard Acaden Lewis to the portal. However, the Wildcats feature 7-foot-3 freshman Luigi Suigo, known as "Italian Wemby," who will play in his home country and is already drawing attention for the 2027 NBA Draft. Tyler Perkins is expected to have a breakout season.
Broadcast and Predictions
The game is scheduled for Sunday, November 1 at 9:30 a.m. ET and will be televised on Fox with a live stream on fubo. A panel of CBS Sports analysts — Gary Parrish, Matt Norlander, David Cobb, Cameron Salerno, and Isaac Trotter — unanimously favor Villanova, with most picking the Wildcats to cover a 7.5-point spread.
