First off, I'm with you in that the conference championship games should be eliminated completely if the playoff expands past 12 (and arguably even at 12). I just can't see the conferences and networks foregoing the revenue from that weekend. In the "guaranteed bids" format, any At-Large bids (whether it be 1 or 3) should be determined at the end of the regular season. Those at-large teams should then be exempt from the play-in games so the play-in weekend is 100% win or go home. No more losing on that weekend and still making the playoffs. This also ensures that if Notre Dame isn't ranked high enough to secure one of the At-Larges at the end of the regular season, then they should be playing for survival on play-in weekend like the rest. If a conference has an at-large team selected, then that could vacate a spot in that conference's play-in game(s) to be filled by ND or the next highest ranked team in that conference.