MADISON, Wis. -- Perhaps it was fitting Nebraska arrived for a monumental showdown with Wisconsin two days before Halloween. Since the Cornhuskers joined the Big Ten, Camp Randall Stadium had represented a veritable house of horrors. And the best way for undefeated Nebraska to prove its worth for the future of this season was to exorcise the demons of its recent past.

In a nightmare that has become all too familiar, however, the Cornhuskers couldn't break through in a potentially season-defining game. No. 11 Wisconsin escaped with a 23-17 overtime victory against No. 7 Nebraska on Saturday night. Yes, it was down to the wire in Madison this time around. But at Nebraska, progress isn't measured by close losses.

Wisconsin running back Dare Ogunbowale scored an 11-yard touchdown around the left side to give the Badgers the 23-17 edge in the extra session, but kicker Andrew Endicott missed the extra point attempt wide left to provide an opening. Nebraska could not capitalize on its possession, and Cornhuskers quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr.'s fourth-down pass was batted down in the end zone.

Nebraska had twice played in Camp Randall Stadium since becoming a league member five years ago, and both games were memorable only for the manner in which the Cornhuskers were embarrassed. In 2011, Wisconsin obliterated Nebraska 48-17 in the Cornhuskers' first football game as a Big Ten program. Two years ago, Wisconsin tailback Melvin Gordon rushed for a then-single-game FBS record 408 yards in three quarters during a 59-24 destruction of the Cornhuskers.

On each occasion, Nebraska entered as a top-11 team and left licking its wounds. The current iteration of Nebraska didn't much care about past performances, of course. Instead, Saturday's game represented an opportunity to fully validate the Cornhuskers' hot start.

Finally, the nation would get an answer as to whether Nebraska was for real after two months of questions. What appeared to be one of Nebraska's best early season wins was a 35-32 squeaker against an Oregon team that proceeded to lose five consecutive games. In two of its last three victories, against Illinois and Purdue -- teams that are a combined 5-11 -- Nebraska trailed during the second half.

Sojourn Shelton makes a first-quarter interception during the Badgers' victory over Nebraska on Saturday. Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) put together an admirable comeback after trailing 17-7. Armstrong's 2-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter brought the Cornhuskers to within 17-14. Nebraska kicker Drew Brown then buried a 35-yard field goal to tie the score at 17-17 with 3:43 remaining in the fourth quarter. But it wasn't enough as the Cornhuskers lost in heartbreaking fashion.

Wisconsin (6-2, 3-2), meanwhile, defeated a third top-10 team in a season for the first time in program history. The Badgers also had never beaten an opponent that came into a game 7-0 or better while also being ranked in the AP poll. Wisconsin had been 0-9-1 in 10 such games previously.

With two conference losses already to Michigan and Ohio State, the Badgers still don't control their own path to a Big Ten West championship. But the victory gives them a legitimate reason for hope. Nebraska must lose one more game to give Wisconsin the tiebreaker, and the most difficult in the bunch for the Cornhuskers could come next Saturday at No. 6 Ohio State. Despite being the only one-loss team remaining in the Big Ten West, Nebraska still has plenty of questions to answer.

Saturday also marked a night in which Wisconsin students were getting ready to participate in their annual Freakfest celebration downtown after the game. They came dressed as any number of characters, including penguins, crocodiles, tigers, kangaroos, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Teletubbies and Santa Claus.

As usual, Wisconsin saved the scary stuff for the football field.