The University of Wisconsin is -- at least for now -- considered the seventh-best college football team in the country. It's a nice thought, but it could be very far from the truth a few months from now.

The Badgers' 42-21 victory over Washington State on Saturday confirmed that they are a talented bunch, to be sure. But while a victory over a Cougars is much more impressive than what should be cakewalks against UNLV and the Citadel, it still does not provide enough eveidence of just what kind of team head coach Bret Bielema has on his hands for his second year.

Nobody can really say for sure just how good or bad the Badgers are or will be. Coming off a school-record 12-1 season, Wisconsin is an obvious contender in the Big Ten Conference.  But, even though the team lost just two starters from last year's squad, the Badgers remain a question mark.

Here are five factors that will play in to Wisconsin's success:

1) Quarterback Questions: Fifth-year senior Tyler Donovan earned the starting job over transfer Allen Everidge. But it remains to be seen if Donovan's performance against Buffalo and Iowa last year were reflective of his overall ability or just a product of an opportunistic moment. Donovan needs to command the offense; as he goes, so do the Badgers. He needs to take ownership of this team if the Badgers expect to be legitimate contenders in the Big Ten Conference.

2) Run, Run, Run: Ever since the Badgers began their return to national relevance, the winning formula has been based on the running game. Barry Alvarez found five big Wisconsin farm boys to handle the line, and an athletic stud to carry the ball. It worked. Sophomore P.J. Hill at times conjured memories of Ron Dayne last season, but nearly disappeared down the stretch. True freshman John Clay from Racine Park is a blue-chipper and is waiting in the wings. As much as the Badgers need stability from Donovan, they need a full season out of Hill. If you want to win the Big Ten Championship, you need to run the football.

3) Handle Your Own Business: The fact that Wisconsin fills its non-conference slate with a roster of tomato cans has been beaten to death. Washington State -- a middle-class Pac 10 Conference school -- was, to be sure, a step up. But Citadel and Northern Illinois still hold spots on the schedule. It would be nice to see Wisconsin line up opponents that would warrant national championship consideration, but until that happens the Badgers need to win in a convincing manner. If you're going to schedule weaker competition, you need to blow opponents out of the water.

4) One Day At A Time: One of the most overplayed, tired, clichéd and worn-out expressions is sport is "taking things one day at a time". Brewers manager Ned Yost is practically writing his own one-way ticket out of town with that approach and Bielema has sworn by it in his one season with the Badgers. In theory, it makes sense. But Wisconsin will need to live by that mantra this year, especially with back-to-back games against Ohio State and at Michigan lurking late in the season. The Badgers simply cannot be caught looking ahead before, during, or after those games. The heavyweight dates are eagerly anticipated, and rightfully so. But the Badgers must maintain focus this season. The Big Ten is too competitive to take anybody lightly.

5) Road To The Championship: With the above in mind, Wisconsin has no chance of being in the national title hunt unless it can beat the big boys. The Badgers have been fortunate enough to have Ohio State's number in recent seasons, but Michigan has been a thorn in Bucky's side for years. Aside from an upset in 2005, the Badgers haven't been able to manage a victory against the Wolverines since 1994. Bielema needs to find a way to end the Michigan hex over Wisconsin this year; that game could be the difference between the Rose Bowl and Alamo Bowl.

A top-10 ranking this early in the season means little; the Badgers need to use their existing national respect and build on it for a run. Trips to the Rose Bowl should still be a dream for any Big Ten school, but if Bielema wants to put his mark on the program and truly escape the shadow of Alvarez, he needs to turn this squad into a legitimate national championship contender.

Optimism is high in Madison these days. The Badgers are on the verge of winning the Big Ten Championship for the first time since 1999. But as good as things look for the Badgers right now, there is a long way to go.