Notre Dame stages late comeback to knock off Villanova in Rome

Notre Dame overcame a six-point deficit in the final four minutes to beat Villanova 74-70 to officially begin the 2026-27 college basketball season.

style="text-align: left;">The two Catholic universities met in the Eternal City Tip-Off in Rome in honor of Chicago-born and Villanova alum Pope Leo XIV. Villanova controlled most of the game, but the Irish scored five straight points to steal the win. Literally.

style="text-align: left;">As Notre Dame trailed 68-67, Gonzaga transfer Braeden Smith got a steal with 1:29 to go. Smith slowed the pace down after pushing it into Villanova’s half, and found a wide-open Logan Duncomb at the top of the key. The senior big man wasn’t afraid to shoot, and buried the go-ahead jumper.

WE GOT A CLOSE ONE. @NDmbb TAKES THE LEAD.

📺: FOX/FOX One pic.twitter.com/ErH1LthmIh

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) November 1, 2026Smith’s steal was Notre Dame’s 14th of the day.

style="text-align: left;">After Villanova missed a shot, Smith buried two more free throws to give the Fighting Irish a two-possession lead with 24 seconds to go.

style="text-align: left;">Villanova had a chance to tie the game with under 10 seconds remaining, but Elijah Crawford’s mid-range jumper didn’t fall.

style="text-align: left;">

style="text-align: left;">