Overview
- Both schools are finalizing a men’s and women’s doubleheader in Rome on Sunday, Nov. 1, to start the 2026–27 season, according to multiple reports led by CBS Sports.
- The NCAA quietly approved a January waiver allowing the games to be played one day before the official Nov. 2 season opener.
- Fox is expected to televise the men’s game as a U.S. morning lead‑in to its NFL coverage, with the women’s game slated for FS1.
- If completed, the men’s matchup is believed to be the first college basketball season‑opener played abroad.
- Contracts and logistics are still being finalized, and although the schools have engaged the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV’s potential attendance remains unknown.