Of the 3 modifications I proposed to the basic 5-1-6 model, I will note that only 1 received pushback. Any thoughts on how a 2nd G5 champ might qualify or whether a max number of CCG-losers would enhance the importance of CCGs?

Returning to Notre Dame (or 11-1 runner-ups in the Big Ten-East and SEC-West) qualifying directly into the Quarterfinals:

Its not so much winning a conference and prejudicing the system against Independents, it is the 13th game. If you have 2 similarly ranked teams and one plays a 13th game, then coaches, administrators, and fans, would all see the logic in having both teams complete 13 games prior to the Quarterfinals, than having one play 12 and the other play 14.

Even if Notre Dame could schedule a 13th game, I'm pretty confident they'd rather take the week off and go straight into the playoff than risk injury for a Top 4 spot that they may not even reach. Said otherwise: Notre Dame still gets an advantage over top SEC and Big Ten teams.

TV revenue? Ya, I don't think TV execs are going to bemoan an extra Notre Dame game, "We'd rather air Cincinnati against Oregon!" said no one ever.