The Bison, picked to finish sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference, turned some heads Saturday night by knocking off Kansas 6-3 for its first win over a team in the Big 12.

Ryan Jastram kicked field goals of 44 and 32 yards, and the Bison defense smothered Kansas to prompt a raucous celebration for the North Dakota State fans who made their way to Memorial Stadium.

"We felt like we could beat them when we hopped on the plane," North Dakota State coach Craig Bohl said. "We came in feeling like we had a heck of a shot to win and that's not being arrogant."

The longer North Dakota State hung around, the more confidence it seemed to gain. Jastram's second field goal was the only scoring of the second half and gave the Bison a 6-3 lead with 8:04 left in the third quarter.

Kansas had a golden opportunity to take the lead when it faced third-and-goal from the North Dakota State 7 late in the third quarter. But Matt Anderson intercepted a pass in the end zone, and the Bison were able to turn back every Kansas possession the rest of the game.

The loss spoiled Turner's Gill coaching debut. It was the eighth consecutive loss for the Jayhawks dating back to last season.

"It's one game and that's how you have to take it," Gill said. "Just move on from there. From an offensive standpoint, we just have to get those things collected and execute better."

In an effort to jump-start the offense, Gill pulled starting quarterback Kale Pick in favor of Jordan Webb two series after Pick threw the end zone interception.

But Webb wasn't able to get the Jayhawks a touchdown either.

"This was a huge game," Bison quarterback Jose Mohler said. "We don't have an NFL team in Fargo and football is huge. These (fans) are here for us, and we brought them home a nice victory."

Kansas' hopes faded on its next-to-last possession when Tim Biere fumbled at the Kansas 36 following a reception and a big hit by Daniel Eaves. It was that kind of slip-and-slide night for the Jayhawks.

The Jayhawks converting just 2-of-8 opportunities on third down in the first half but got a big play from wide receiver Daymond Patterson to set up a field goal by Jacob Branstetter that gave Kansas a 3-0 lead with 1:58 left in the first quarter.

Taking the ball on a reverse, Patterson broke free on a 51-yard run that put the ball on the Bison 14. The Jayhawks stalled, but Branstetter hit his sixth field goal in his last seven attempts dating back to last season.

Later Branstetter missed a 42-yarder with 6:50 remaining that could have tied the game.

"I thought our guys really made a lot of plays," Bohl said. "It certainly wasn't error free, but our effort was there."

The Bison had a chance to take the lead after Mike Sigers' blocked punt put North Dakota State at the Kansas 10 in the second quarter. However, Isiah Barfield intercepted a pass from Mohler in the end zone on third down. Barfield tried to run the ball out, but was tackled at the Kansas 1.

The poor field position ultimately cost Kansas as the Jayhawks subsequently punted from the end zone. An 18-yard punt return by Ryan Smith and a late-hit penalty put Jastram in position for a 44-yard field goal and tied the game 3-all with 3:20 left in the half.

North Dakota State then got the second Jastram field goal for the only scoring of the second half.

Kansas had three turnovers to negate a 293-168 edge in total offense.