 Visiting USC for the final regular season game, the Irish again lost to the Trojans by 31.The Irish accepted a bowl bid to play in the Insight Bowl, however, in a highly criticized move, two days later fired Willingham.Defensive coordinator, Kent Baer, led the Irish, hoping to "win one for Ty," however, the Oregon State Beavers, led by four touchdown passes from Derek Anderson, beat the Irish in their seventh consecutive bowl loss.