Cincinnati Country Day sits 10th in Division VII, Region 28 in the first Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) computer rankings of the 2026 football season.

The Nighthawks hold a computer rating of 2.3141, according to standings compiled by the Springfield News-Sun from the OHSAA's Week 5 ratings released Tuesday, Sept. 22. The top 12 teams in each region qualify for the postseason. The top four earn first-round byes.

CCD's cushion is slim. Cedarville (2-3) sits 11th at 2.3071, just 0.007 points back. Twelfth-place Lewisburg Tri-County North (2-3) trails by 0.0141 points.

CCD holds that spot despite a 1-4 record. The OHSAA's Harbin formula rewards teams not only for their own wins but also for wins by their opponents, with additional credit for playing larger schools, as the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. That strength-of-schedule component explains how a one-win team remains in playoff position.

The Nighthawks have been short-handed all season. Coach Jim Collins told WCPO 9 on Sept. 11 that five to six players could not practice or play, leaving only 14 healthy bodies for the Week 4 game against Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy. The OHSAA said the cancellation would be regarded as a forfeit.

CCD then fell 50-19 to Clermont Northeastern on Sept. 18. Clermont Northeastern's Tyler Watkins ran for 125 yards and two touchdowns. He added seven solo tackles and two sacks, WLWT reported.

Minster (5-0) leads Region 28 with a 9.05 rating. Ansonia (4-1) is second at 7.85, and Maria Stein Marion Local (5-0) is third at 7.55.

CCD is the only Cincinnati-area team in playoff position in the region, according to the Enquirer. Across all divisions, 39 Cincinnati-area teams sit in playoff position in the first rankings, with 12 holding first-round byes.

OHSAA first-round playoff games are scheduled for Oct. 31 at the higher seed's home field. Clark Montessori visits Cincinnati Country Day on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.