Villanova and Notre Dame set for men’s and women’s season openers in Rome

Villanova and Notre Dame’s men’s and women’s teams are scheduled to meet in Rome on Nov. 1 to open the 2026-27 season. USA TODAY reports that Villanova athletic director Eric Roedl and a Fox Sports producer separately pursued the idea after Pope Leo XIV’s election. Sports Business Journal reports that an NCAA waiver lets the schools play a day early; Fox and FS1 plan to televise the games.