An American pope, a text and a wild idea: How college basketball ended up in Rome

John Leuzzi, USA TODAYFri, October 30, 2026 at 10:07 AM UTC

The first American pope was elected. Inside Fox Sports, a college basketball producer had an idea: Let’s go to Rome.

"Hey, I got something important to talk to you about," a text from Steve Scheer, one of Fox’s top college basketball producers, read to Fox Sports Executive Vice President Jordan Bazant.

Bazant admitted he didn’t think much of the message at first. But Scheer followed it with a presentation highlighting Pope Leo XIV’s passion for sports, helping set in motion one of college basketball’s most unique projects this season: bringing the sport to Rome.

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How college basketball ended up in Rome

What Bazant and Scheer didn’t know was that Villanova officials were already exploring the same idea.

On May 8, 2025, the day Pope Leo was elected, Wildcats athletic director Eric Roedl reached out to John Anthony at On Location, which has experience organizing international college events such as the annual Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin. Roedl wanted to explore bringing Villanova’s men’s and women’s basketball programs to Rome to face Notre Dame in an event celebrating Villanova’s alumnus, formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost.

"We felt like it was an incredible opportunity for not only our basketball programs, but for our university to have an opportunity to bring Villanova over to Rome and celebrate our alum, Pope Leo," Roedl told USA TODAY Sports. "We feel like it’s an opportunity that really transcends basketball."

Once it became clear multiple groups were pursuing similar concepts, the partners joined forces to turn the idea into reality.

Bazant said the doubleheader is "really not about a singular basketball game," but about using sports to bring people together while honoring what the Vatican represents and who Pope Leo is. Leo earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Villanova in 1977.

Roedl echoed that sentiment. The event aligns closely with Villanova’s identity as an Augustinian university, founded by the same religious order to which Pope Leo belongs. It also offered the school a chance to bring a sport central to Villanova’s identity to the Vatican.

"To tie all that together was something we thought would be really special," Roedl said.

For Fox, the event also offered an opportunity to raise the profile of its men’s college basketball coverage, much as the network has done with women’s basketball and volleyball, at a time when, Bazant said, the college sports landscape is as dynamic as ever.

"It’s a very, very, very crowded time of the year on the sports calendar," Bazant said. "... We wanted to do something that could break through that clutter. Tip-off has never really been a big deal because of the time of year.

"We thought this could be something really fun that has such positives to the community and the world."

Pulling it off presented its own challenges.

Because the doubleheader will be played Sunday, a day before the men’s and women’s seasons tip off in the United States, the NCAA needed to grant a waiver. Roedl credited the Big East and ACC with helping secure approval and said Vatican scheduling and availability added another layer to the logistics.

Then there was the venue.

Palazzo dello Sport, built for the 1960 Summer Olympics, ultimately won out over another finalist because of its larger capacity and ability to accommodate an event of this magnitude.

"This is still a very meaningful, big-time, regular-season game, so it’s got to have all the elements of a premier playing facility," Bazant said.

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Demand has been "really strong" from Villanova’s side, according to Roedl, who said the university sold more than 6,000 ticket packages and expects roughly 400 students to attend, many of whom are already studying abroad in Rome.

But the centerpiece of the ticket package, aside from the games, might come Saturday: Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica followed by a public audience with Pope Leo, who recently underwent surgery to remove a small lung nodule that was later diagnosed as cancer.

Nearly 7,000 people are expected to attend Saturday’s events, according to Roedl.

"The basketball piece is something we’re all really excited about, but the opportunity for the fans to go over and experience all of that along with it is what really makes this a special event that really transcends sports," Roedl said.

And while this is a business trip for the four teams involved, Bazant said the experience away from the court is just as important, reflecting what he sees as the broader mission of college athletics.

USA TODAY Sports reached out to Notre Dame for comment and an interview but did not receive either.

Both teams arrived in Rome on Wednesday after departing from Philadelphia and Chicago. Since then, they’ve had time to adjust to the time change while balancing practices with opportunities to explore the Eternal City.

Players Era, which operates NIL-driven multi-team events in Las Vegas, is also involved. But Roedl said NIL is "not really at the center" of the event beyond some promotional appearances by Villanova players. Each school is receiving a financial guarantee to cover the expenses of traveling to Rome, according to a Villanova spokesperson.

"This event is really about the schools, it’s about the programs, it’s about Catholicism and bringing everyone to the Vatican to experience all of this," Roedl said.

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'Creating something really fun' on broadcast

For those unable to make the trip to Rome, the experience will unfold through Fox’s broadcast.

Producing an event overseas presented logistical hurdles, but familiar ones for a network with international experience that includes last month’s Union Jack Classic in London between Arizona State and Kansas, as well as the FIFA World Cup and World Baseball Classic.

"It’s a huge advantage for us," Bazant said.

Those challenges included navigating international staffing laws and broadcasting from an unfamiliar venue, which required multiple site visits ahead of Sunday’s games. Fox is working with Lost Tribe Partners on the on-site production, including court setup, scoreboards and other game operations.

"It’s nothing that (our crews) haven’t done before, and they’re experts at it," Bazant added.

Come tipoff Sunday, Bazant said viewers can expect a broadcast that embraces the setting while keeping basketball at its center. Among the storylines: Italian native Luigi Suigo making his Villanova debut and Hannah Hidalgo opening her senior season at Notre Dame, all against the backdrop of a game played just miles from the Vatican.

Whether Pope Leo will attend remains unknown, though Roedl said he would be welcomed in any capacity.

Sunday’s doubleheader also kicks off a busy day for Fox Sports. The men’s game tips off at 9:30 a.m. ET on Fox ahead of the network’s NFL coverage, followed by the women’s game at noon ET on Fox Sports 1.

"Fox has really gone out of its way to promote this event and provide a great platform for (it) on a Sunday," Roedl said. "We're excited to have a really big audience for an event that's going to be really special."

Fox’s broadcast will feature 150 staff members, including 75 on-site, and 15 cameras positioned throughout the arena.

Kevin Kugler will handle play-by-play duties for both games. Kim Adams will serve as the men’s sideline reporter before moving to the analyst chair for the women’s matchup. Legendary Big East voice Bill Raftery will join Kugler for the men’s broadcast.

"This is just as exciting for them," Bazant said. "Imagine Raft in Rome? It’s going to be unbelievable."

What began with a text message about bringing college basketball to Rome became something much bigger than a game.

"They’re going to have experiences that most people in the entire world will never get," Bazant said. "Imagine going to St. Peter’s to hear a Papal audience? That’s unbelievable. Think about that."

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: An American pope, a text and a wild idea: How college basketball ended up in Rome

Source: Sports