Notre Dame Insight-Bound

Notre Dame accepted an invitation Sunday to play in the Insight Bowl in Phoenix against a Pacific 10 Conference team on Dec. 28.

The Irish (6-5) accepted the bid a day after losing to USC for a third consecutive season, this time 41-10.

The opponent is supposed to be the fourth- or fifth-place Pac-10 team. Whether No. 4 California (9-1) earns a bowl championship series berth will affect who the Irish play, as will USC’s game against UCLA. The Irish could face Arizona State (8-2), UCLA (6-4) or Oregon State (6-5).

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The fate of Stanford Coach Buddy Teevens could be decided today.

“We are still working on it. We’re in the process. If Buddy stays, we’ll make an announcement. We know there are questions out there,” Athletic Director Ted Leland said.

Teevens, 48, who has two years left on his contract, has a 10-23 record in three seasons. *

Chad Owens caught four touchdown passes and scored on a punt return as Hawaii defeated Northwestern, 49-41, Saturday night. The Warriors (6-6) ended Northwestern’s season at 6-6 and the Wildcats’ chance for postseason play. The Warriors need to beat another Big Ten opponent, Michigan State, this weekend in Aloha Stadium to qualify for the Hawaii Bowl.... Minnesota (6-5) will play in the Music City Bowl in Nashville on Dec. 31 against a Southeastern Conference opponent to be determined.... Alabama Birmingham (7-4) accepted an invitation to play in the Dec. 24 Hawaii Bowl, the team’s first trip to a postseason bowl.