College basketball's 2026-27 season opens in an unusual venue: Rome, Italy. Notre Dame and Villanova meet Sunday at the Palazzo dello Sport as part of the historic Eternal City Tip-Off, with both the men's and women's programs squaring off abroad.

On the women's side, No. 13 Notre Dame is led by star guard Hannah Hidalgo as the Fighting Irish open their campaign against the Wildcats. The men's matchup tips off Sunday morning stateside, billed as a historic international showdown to launch the new season.

The doubleheader drew full coverage from Yahoo Sports and CBS Sports, including viewing guides and expert picks — SportsLine's Eric Cohen released his best bets for the men's opener. For two programs with deep hoops traditions, opening overseas gives the rivalry a rare stage before conference play brings things back to familiar arenas.