The last time No. 17 Western Michigan started 8-0 was in 1941, when there were five bowl games.The Broncos didnt participate in one that season, but are sure to compete in one of the 41 scheduled this December and January. More importantly, they are in the drivers seat to play in a New Years Day bowl game as the highest-ranked team from the group of five conferences.But first, Western Michigan likely must win its final four regular-season contests beginning with a visit to Ball State on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2) and the Mid-American Conference title game to play in one of the four contests scheduled for Jan. 2 -- most likely the Cotton Bowl.The group of five conferences are the MAC, American Athletic, Mountain West, Conference USA and Sun Belt. If Western Michigan stumbles, San Diego State and Boise State of the MWC -- both 7-1 -- could move ahead. Boise State was ranked 13th before falling at Wyoming 30-28 on Saturday and is the only other group of five team in the Associated Press poll at No. 24.The final determination, though, comes from the College Football Playoff rankings, which make their season debut Tuesday.Western Michigans next three games are against teams with a combined 9-16 record before it finishes the regular season by hosting Toledo in a contest that will likely decide the MAC West Division.The Broncos are one of five undefeated teams in the nation -- Alabama, Michigan, Clemson and Washington are the others -- and as their stock rises, so does the interest in coach P.J. Fleck.Western Michigan athletic director Kathy Beauregard told the Detroit News on Monday that the university is exploring several different options to renegotiate Flecks contract, which pays him a MAC-most $800,000 annually through 2020. Fleck is expected to be a hot commodity during coach shopping season later this fall.I cant control rumors and speculation and Ill never comment on rumors and speculation, just like I didnt in year one, last year, the year before, Fleck said Oct. 18 when asked about other jobs. Im not interested in that. Im interested in coaching this football team and being the best head coach I can be today. Thats all Im focused on.Flecks sights are set on Ball State (4-4, 1/3 MAC), which didnt offer much resistance in a 54-7 loss to the Broncos last season. He also must keep his team in the moment -- something that hasnt been an issue -- and knows theyll get everybodys best shot the rest of the way.We have an enormous challenge on Tuesday night and our players understand that, Fleck said.Western Michigans success begins with senior quarterback Zach Terrell, who completes 70.2 percent of his passes with 20 touchdowns and one interception. Under Terrells leadership, the Broncos take care of the ball better than anyone as they were the last team in the country to commit a turnover -- in their seventh game.Western Michigan, which averages 44.4 points (sixth in the nation), face a Cardinals defense that is 96th among the 128 FBS teams in total defense and 116th in pass defense. Ball State, though, allows a respectable 25.4 points per game.Terrells favorite target is senior wide receiver Corey Davis (49 catches, FBS-most 11 touchdowns), who has 4,524 yards and is 482 away from breaking the FBS record set by Nevadas Trevor Insley from 1996-99. He is already the MACs all-time yardage leader.The Broncos balanced attack includes junior running back Jarvion Franklin (909 yards, seven touchdowns), who surpassed 100 yards in his last four games. Franklins 36 career rushing TDs trail only Jerome Persells 39 (from 1976-78) in school annals.Junior linebacker Robert Spillane was named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week for the third time this season after recording a career-high 14 tackles in a 45-31 victory over Eastern Michigan on Oct. 22.The Cardinals are led by sophomore quarterback Riley Neal, whose up-and-down season includes seven touchdowns, nine interceptions and a 60.2 percent completion rate. Senior wide receiver KeVonn Mabon has a team-high 50 receptions, but zero touchdowns.Ball State sophomore running back James Gilbert is tied for 10th nationally and leads the MAC with 11 rushing touchdowns, and sits eighth in the country with 897 rushing yards. He averaged 164.3 with eight touchdowns in his last four games. Carolina Hurricanes Store .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. Carolina Hurricanes Pro Shop . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. https://www.cheaphurricanes.com/ . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. Carolina Hurricanes Shirts . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. Custom Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later.MINNEAPOLIS -- Chris Herrmann sat on the bench watching his Minnesota Twins climb back into the game against the Chicago White Sox. The 25-year-old backup catcher was so caught up in the action that the possibility of pinch-hitting in the ninth inning hadnt even occurred to him. When Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told him to get ready, Herrmann had to scramble a bit before delivering the highlight of his young career. Herrmanns pinch-hit single in the bottom of the ninth scored pinch-runner Doug Bernier and lifted the Twins to a 4-3 victory over the White Sox on Thursday night. "With some young guys you have to tell them, You might have to hit here. Get a bat in your hand and at least look like youre ready to hit," Gardenhire said. "That was the case tonight when I told Herrmann, Would you please stand up and do something because I might use you." The Twins trailed 3-2 heading into the eighth, but Joe Mauer doubled and scored on a base hit from Justin Morneau to tie it. Herrmann came through against Ramon Troncoso (1-4) in the ninth to complete the comeback. The youngster got a Gatorade bath while doing the postgame interview and was able to laugh about being a little ill prepared after everything turned out OK. "I was just kind of sitting there watching the game and I didnt have any of my stuff ready which is my fault," he said. "I should have been more ready to go, but I guess it worked out as planned. Next time I wont do that. Ill be ready with batting gloves and my helmet and ready to go." Trevor Plouffe hit a solo homer and Mike Pelfrey gave up three runs and struck out four in 6 1-3 innings for the Twins. Paul Konerko had two hits and an RBI, and Andre Rienzo gave up two runs -- one earned -- on four hits with two strikeouts in six innings for the White Sox, who lost their 10th straight on the road. Jared Burton (2-6) pitched the ninth for the win. "Its a moment Im going to never forget and hopefully there will be more to come," Herrmann said. Plouffe led off the eighth with a single to left and Troncoso walked Chris Colabello. Clete Thomass bunt failed when catcher Josh Phegley threw Plouffe out at third, but Herrmannn squeezed a base hit just past a diving Konerko at first to win it.dddddddddddd Gardenhire said he thought Pelfrey could be running out of gas as his innings total has climbed over 100 in his first season back from Tommy John surgery, and he got off to a sluggish start that appeared to support that theory. Pelfrey gave up RBI singles to Adam Dunn and Konerko to fall behind 2-0 in the first. But Pelfrey was able to grind into the seventh and keep the Twins in the game, working much quicker on the mound this time around after being prodded by the Twins coaching staff to speed things up for most of the season. Plouffe got the Twins on the board in the fifth with a home run into the bullpen in centre field and Josh Willinghams single scored Brian Dozier to cut the lead to 3-2 in the sixth. With White Sox manager Robin Ventura trying to groom Nate Jones as the teams setup man of the future, he sent the right-hander out there in the eighth to face lefties Morneau and Mauer rather than going to left-hander Donnie Veal. Mauer, who had five hits in a loss to the Indians on Wednesday, ripped a double to centre field and just beat a strong throw home from right fielder Avisail Garcia to tie it 3-3. White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham left the game in the fourth inning with a strained right quadriceps. Beckham, who leads the team with a .310 average, went 1 for 2 with a single and a run scored before being pulled for what the team called precautionary reasons. "Going down the first base line in the second at-bat he probably felt it more than he has," Ventura said. "If you cant run hard without feeling it, you probably shouldnt play." NOTES: White Sox OF Dayan Viciedo missed his sixth straight game with a sore left thumb. Ventura said Viciedo was making progress. ... Twins GM Terry Ryan said C/OF Ryan Doumit (head) has been improving and could be activated as soon as Friday. ... RHP Nick Blackburn, who has spent all season at Triple-A Rochester, will have surgery on a torn meniscus in his right knee on Friday, Ryan said. ... RHP Kevin Correia (8-8, 4.59) is scheduled to pitch for the Twins on Friday against White Sox LHP Jose Quintana (6-4, 3.70). ' ' '