Are power rankings predictions?

Power rankings are evaluations of team strength, not guaranteed predictions of individual results. Many rankings include forward-looking judgment, so they can suggest which teams are more likely to perform well.

An actual matchup still depends on opponent fit, injuries, location, rest, weather, and normal game-to-game variation. A higher-ranked team can lose, and a ranking should not be interpreted as a promised outcome or a substitute for a game-specific forecast.