Notre Dame Rallies Late to Beat Villanova 74-70 in Rome Season Opener

Notre Dame erased a six-point deficit in the final four minutes to beat Villanova 74-70 at the Eternal City Tip-Off in Rome, opening the 2026-27 men's college basketball season. With the Irish down 68-67, Braeden Smith came up with a steal with 1:29 left and found Logan Duncomb for the go-ahead jumper. Smith then hit two free throws with 24 seconds left, and Elijah Crawford missed a potential tying shot. Smith and Brady Koehler scored 16 apiece, Tyler Perkins led Villanova with 18, and Notre Dame won despite shooting 35% as Villanova turned it over 20 times. The game honored Pope Leo XIV, a Villanova alumnus who met both teams but did not attend.