Many people think UW-Nebraska eventually will develop into the premier rivalry in the Big Ten West. It hasn't really happened yet, in large part because UW has dominated the series since Nebraska joined the conference in 2011. The Badgers have now won five of the six meetings, though the last two have gone down to the wire.

With Chryst and Nebraska coach Mike Riley looking more and more like the right men for their respective jobs in their second seasons, the rivarly is brimming with potential. Even if the programs are joined at the hip.

Still, neither team was in a particularly giving mood in the hard-hitting defensive struggle. It wasn't until Shelton and safety D'Cota Dixon knocked down quarterback Tommy Armstrong's pass into the end zone on fourth down in overtime that the Badgers proved their mettle.

They're where they are because they didn't buy into the prevailing opinions. They viewed their difficult schedule as a challenge, they attacked it and they conquered it with an overtime win that kept all their dreams in play.

"It’s big," Ogunbowale said. "Guys have been playing tough all season and coming up short in situations obviously we don’t want to. For us to win a close game like that, playing 60-plus minutes, it’s awesome."

Better yet, they even got a rivalry out of the deal.

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