Ticket City bowl officials were at the Houston game. After the game they told USM's AD they wanted USM in their game and guaranteed a ranked Big 10 team as the opponent. USM's AD to help out Fedora for the reasons stated in the op chose the Hawaii bowl instead. He did not tell the school President he had done that. She learned at church the next day.
In the end:
Fedora got what he wanted.
USM players got a great week in Hawaii.
USM football got it's 12th win and a top 20 ranking.
USM's AD got fired and is not the AD today.