Notre Dame stages late comeback to knock off Villanova in Rome
The Irish trailed 66-60 with less than four minutes to go before winning 74-70.
Notre Dame staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Villanova 74-70, officially opening the 2026-27 college basketball season. The highly-anticipated game took place in Rome, coinciding with the papacy of Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native and alumnus of Villanova. Despite Villanova's dominant performance throughout the match, the Irish managed to snatch victory in the final moments.
Leading 68-67, Notre Dame's Braeden Smith seized control when he pulled off a steal with just 1:29 remaining. The senior big man, known for his fearless shooting, swiftly accelerated the tempo by passing the ball to his teammate Logan Duncomb. Duncomb's decisive three-pointer secured the win for Notre Dame, marking the beginning of a new era in college basketball.
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