Tyler Roehl rushed for a school record 263 yards and a touchdown as the Bison overpowered the big boys from down the road in a 27-21 victory over Minnesota on Saturday.

One year after the upstarts from the former Division I-AA lost when their game-winning field goal was blocked on the last play of the game, the Bison rolled over their big brothers from the Big Ten on the strength of a power running game and more than 30,000 screaming NDSU fans at the Metrodome.

After last year's 10-9 loss, most of the Bison faithful left the Metrodome pleasantly surprised by how competitive their team was. They returned this year fully confident that they could beat the Gophers, and that's exactly what happened.

Shawn Bibeau, whose kick was blocked at the end of regulation last year, kicked two field goals and Steve Walker passed for 191 yards and two touchdowns for North Dakota State (7-0), which extended the nation's longest winning streak in Division I — Bowl Subdivision and Championship Subdivision — to 11 games.

The Gophers (1-7) hit a low point in what has been a miserable first season under first-year head coach Tim Brewster, giving up 585 total yards and squandering several chances down the stretch.

Minnesota appeared to have a chance to take the ball and get a chance to win the game when North Dakota State line up to punt with 1:48 left. But Dom Barber ran into punter Mike Dragosavich to give the Bison a first down and seal the game.

All those Bison fans who turned the Metrodome into Fargodome East roared their approval as the final whistle sounded, cementing a program-defining win under coach Craig Bohl.

In the final year of their transition from Division II to the Football Championship Subdivision, the Bison were treating this game like their Super Bowl.

They have 33 players from Minnesota on their roster, some of whom felt slighted when they weren't offered scholarships by the only Division I school in their home state, and won't be eligible to make the playoffs until next season.

The game may be just as big for the Gophers, who finish the season with difficult games against Michigan, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin.

Adam Weber threw for 162 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 44 more yards for the Gophers, but he threw a costly interception in the fourth quarter after the Gophers fell behind 24-21 on Walker's 7-yard TD pass to Thor Brown.

Duane Bennett had three catches for 71 yards and a touchdown for the Gophers.

The Bison rushed for 394 yards against the porous Minnesota defense.

After an impressive opening drive from the Gophers that culminated with a 20-yard touchdown pass from receiver Eric Decker to Ralph Spry, the Bison overpowered Minnesota on offense and did just enough on defense.