 | |
| Season | 2015 |
|---|---|
| Duration | August 2015 – January 2016 |
| National Champions | January 3, 2016 |
Two human polls comprise the2015 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) football rankings, in addition to various publications' preseason polls. Unlike theFootball Bowl Subdivision (FBS), college football's governing body, theNCAA, bestows thenational championship title through a24-team tournament.[1] The following weekly polls determine the top 25 teams at theNCAA Division IFootball Championship Subdivision level ofcollege football for the2015 season. TheSTATS poll is voted by media members while theCoaches' Poll is determined by coaches at the FCS level. STATS LLC acquiredThe Sports Network, which previously sponsored the media poll, in early 2015.[2]
| Increase in ranking | ||
| Decrease in ranking | ||
| Not ranked previous week | ||
| Italics | Number of first place votes | |
| (#–#) | Win–loss record | |
| т | Tied with team above or below also with this symbol |
| Preseason Aug 10[3] | Week 1 Sep 7[4] | Week 2 Sep 14[5] | Week 3 Sep 21[6] | Week 4 Sep 28[7] | Week 5 Oct 5[8] | Week 6 Oct 12[9] | Week 7 Oct 19[10] | Week 8 Oct 26[11] | Week 9 Nov 2[12] | Week 10 Nov 9[13] | Week 11 Nov 16[14] | Week 12 Nov 22[15] | Week 13 (Final) Jan 11[16] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | North Dakota State144 | Sam Houston State31 (0–1) | Jacksonville State39 (1–1) | Jacksonville State93 (3–1) | Jacksonville State89 (4–1) | Jacksonville State89 (4–1) | Jacksonville State89 (5–1) | Jacksonville State108 (5–1) | Jacksonville State107 (6–1) | Jacksonville State139 (7–1) | Jacksonville State149 (8–1) | Jacksonville State145 (9–1) | Jacksonville State135 (10–1) | North Dakota State150 (13–2) | 1. |
| 2. | Illinois State3 | North Dakota State22 (0–1) | Coastal Carolina36 (2–0) | Coastal Carolina36 (4–0) | Coastal Carolina40 (5–0) | Coastal Carolina39 (5–0) | North Dakota State27 (4–2) | Coastal Carolina27 (6–0) | Coastal Carolina33 (7–0) | Illinois State18 (7–1) | North Dakota State (7–2) | North Dakota State (8–2) | North Dakota State2 (9–2) | Jacksonville State (13–2) | 2. |
| 3. | Sam Houston State | Coastal Carolina24 (1–0) | Sam Houston State38 (0–1) | North Dakota State17 (2–1) | North Dakota State16 (3–1) | North Dakota State20 (3–1) | Coastal Carolina30 (6–0) | Illinois State6 (5–1) | Illinois State20 (6–1) | Chattanooga (7–1) | McNeese State12 (9–0) | McNeese State10 (9–0) | McNeese State10 (10–0) | Sam Houston State (11–4) | 3. |
| 4. | Villanova | Illinois State20 (0–1) | North Dakota State23 (1–1) | Illinois State2 (2–1) | Illinois State2 (3–1) | Illinois State1 (3–1) | Illinois State1 (5–1) | James Madison18 (7–0) | Chattanooga (6–1) | Eastern Washington (6–2) | Coastal Carolina (8–1) | Coastal Carolina (9–1) | Illinois State (9–2) | Richmond (10–4) | 4. |
| 5. | Coastal Carolina | Jacksonville State24 (1–0) | Illinois State6 (1–1) | Villanova4 (2–2) | South Dakota State6 (3–1) | James Madison8 (5–0) | James Madison12 (7–0) | Chattanooga (5–1) | Eastern Washington (5–2) | Richmond (6–2) | South Dakota State (7–2) | South Dakota State (8–2) | Portland State (9–2) | Illinois State (10–3) | 5. |
| 6. | Eastern Washington | Villanova6 (0–1) | Villanova4 (1–1) | South Dakota State6 (3–0) | James Madison4 (5–0) | Chattanooga (3–1) | Chattanooga (5–1) | South Dakota State (5–1) | Richmond (6–1) | North Dakota State (6–2) | Illinois State (7–2) | Illinois State (8–2) | Sam Houston State (8–3) | Charleston Southern (10–3) | 6. |
| 7. | Jacksonville State | Eastern Washington6 (0–1) | South Dakota State8 (2–0) | Northern Iowa (2–1) | Northern Iowa1 (2–2) | Eastern Washington (2–2) | South Dakota State (5–1) | Eastern Washington (4–2) | North Dakota State (5–2) | Sam Houston State (6–2) | William & Mary (7–2) | William & Mary (8–2) | Chattanooga (8–3) | McNeese State (10–1) | 7. |
| 8. | Chattanooga | Montana2 (1–1) | Montana (1–1) | Chattanooga (3–1) | Chattanooga (3–1) | South Dakota State (3–1) | Eastern Washington (4–2) | North Dakota State (4–2) | Sam Houston State (5–2) | Coastal Carolina (7–1) | Chattanooga (7–2) | Chattanooga (8–2) | James Madison (9–2) | Northern Iowa (9–5) | 8. |
| 9. | New Hampshire | South Dakota State8 (1–0) | Northern Iowa (1–1) | James Madison (4–0) | Eastern Washington (2–2) | Youngstown State (3–1) | Sam Houston State (4–2) | Sam Houston State (4–2) | James Madison (7–1) | McNeese State1 (8–0) | Richmond (7–2) | Charleston Southern1 (9–1) | Charleston Southern (9–2) | Chattanooga (9–4) | 9. |
| 10. | Northern Iowa | Chattanooga (0–1) | Chattanooga (1–1) | Liberty (2–2) | Youngstown State (3–1) | Northern Iowa (2–3) | Fordham (6–1) | Fordham (6–1) | McNeese State (7–0) | Portland State1 (7–1) | Eastern Washington (6–3) | Sam Houston State (7–3) | South Dakota State (8–3) | Portland State (9–3) | 10. |
| 11. | Montana State | Montana State (1–0) | Montana State (1–0) | Eastern Washington (2–2) | Montana State (2–2) | Sam Houston State (2–2) | Youngstown State (3–3) | Richmond (5–1) | Fordham (7–1) | South Dakota State (6–2) | Charleston Southern (8–1) | Portland State (8–2) | Coastal Carolina (9–2) | James Madison (9–3) | 11. |
| 12. | James Madison | New Hampshire (0–1) | James Madison (2–0) | Sam Houston State (1–2) | Sam Houston State (2–2) | Montana (3–2) | Northern Iowa (2–4) | McNeese State (6–0) | Portland State (6–1) | William & Mary (6–2) | Harvard (8–0) | James Madison (8–2) | Richmond (8–3) | William & Mary (9–4) | 12. |
| 13. | Montana | James Madison (1–0) | New Hampshire (1–1) | Youngstown State (2–1) | Montana (3–2) | Fordham (4–1) | Richmond (5–1) | Eastern Kentucky (4–2) | Eastern Kentucky (5–2) | Harvard (7–0) | Sam Houston State (6–3) | Fordham (9–2) | William & Mary (8–3) | The Citadel (9–4) | 13. |
| 14. | Youngstown State | Northern Iowa (0–1) | Eastern Washington (0–2) | Montana (2–2) | Villanova (2–2) | Villanova (2–2) | Eastern Kentucky (4–2) | Portland State (5–1) | South Dakota State (5–2) | James Madison (7–2) | James Madison (7–2) | Richmond (7–3) | Fordham (9–2) | Montana (8–5) | 14. |
| 15. | Liberty | Liberty (1–0) | Liberty (1–1) | Montana State (2–1) | Fordham (4–1) | Liberty (3–2) | McNeese State (6–0) | Harvard (5–0) | Harvard (6–0) | Charleston Southern (7–1) | Portland State (7–2) | Northern Iowa (6–4) | Northern Iowa (7–4) | South Dakota State (8–4) | 15. |
| 16. | South Dakota State | Fordham (1–0) | Youngstown State (1–1) | Fordham (3–1) | Portland State (3–1) | Richmond (3–1) | Montana State (3–3) | Youngstown State (3–3) | William & Mary (5–2) | Fordham (7–2) | Fordham (8–2) | North Carolina A&T (9–1) | Montana (7–4) | Coastal Carolina (9–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Eastern Kentucky | Youngstown State (0–1) | Cal Poly (1–1) | Portland State (3–0) | Eastern Kentucky (2–2) | Eastern Kentucky (2–2) | Portland State (5–1) | William & Mary (4–2) | Montana (4–3) | Northern Iowa (4–4) | Northern Iowa (5–4) | Montana (6–4) | Southern Utah (8–3) | Colgate (9–5) | 17. |
| 18. | Richmond | Cal Poly1 (1–0) | Fordham (1–1) | Eastern Kentucky (2–1) | Liberty (2–2) | Montana State (2–2) | Harvard (5–0) | Indiana State (4–2) | Northern Iowa (3–4) | Eastern Kentucky (5–3) | Southern Utah (7–2) | Eastern Washington (6–4) | The Citadel (8–3) | Southern Utah (8–4) | 18. |
| 19. | Southeastern Louisiana | Eastern Kentucky (1–0) | Portland State (2–0) | Richmond (2–1) | Richmond (3–1) | Indiana State (3–1) | New Hampshire (3–3) | Montana (3–3) | Montana State (4–3) | North Carolina A&T (7–1) | North Carolina A&T (8–1) | Harvard (8–1) | Harvard (9–1) | Fordham (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Fordham | Southeastern Louisiana (1–0) | Southeastern Louisiana (2–0) | Cal Poly (1–3) | New Hampshire (3–2) | Southeastern Louisiana (3–1) | Montana (3–3) | Western Illinois (4–2) | North Carolina A&T (6–1) | Southern Utah (6–2) | Youngstown State (5–4) | Southern Utah (7–3) | Dartmouth (9–1) | Harvard (9–1) | 20. |
| 21. | Indiana State | Indiana State (1–0) | Eastern Kentucky (1–1) | New Hampshire (2–2) | Indiana State (3–1) | New Hampshire (3–2) | Indiana State (4–2) | Montana State (3–3) | Indiana State (4–3) | Youngstown State (4–4) | The Citadel (7–2) | Dartmouth (8–1) | Grambling State (8–2) | North Carolina A&T (10–2) | 21. |
| 22. | Idaho State | Richmond (0–1) | Richmond (1–1) | Indiana State (2–1) | Southeastern Louisiana (3–1) | McNeese State (4–0) | Liberty (3–4) | Northern Iowa (2–4) | Dartmouth (6–0) | Montana (4–4) | Montana (5–4) | Grambling State (8–2) | North Carolina A&T (9–2) | Western Illinois (7–6) | 22. |
| 23. | Harvard | Idaho State (1–0) | Indiana State (1–1) | Southeastern Louisiana (2–1) | McNeese State (4–0) | North Dakota (4–1) | Southeastern Louisiana (3–3) | Villanova (3–3) | Western Illinois (4–3) | Indiana State (4–4) | Dartmouth (7–1) | Eastern Kentucky (6–4) | Eastern Washington (6–5) | Dartmouth (9–1) | 23. |
| 24. | Stephen F. Austin | Portland State (1–0) | Northern Arizona (2–0) | Harvard (2–0) | Harvard (3–0) | Harvard (3–0) | William & Mary (4–2) | North Carolina A&T (5–1) | Charleston Southern (6–1) | Dartmouth (6–1) | Eastern Kentucky (5–4) | Northern Arizona (7–3) | Eastern Illinois (7–4) | Grambling State (9–3) | 24. |
| 25. | McNeese State | Harvard (0–0) | Harvard (0–0) | McNeese State (3–0) | William & Mary (2–2) | Portland State (3–1) | Villanova (3–3) | Dartmouth (5–0) | Youngstown State (3–4) | The Citadel (6–2) | Grambling State (7–2) | The Citadel (7–3) | Bethune-Cookman (9–2) | Eastern Illinois (7–5) | 25. |
| Preseason Aug 10[3] | Week 1 Sep 7[4] | Week 2 Sep 14[5] | Week 3 Sep 21[6] | Week 4 Sep 28[7] | Week 5 Oct 5[8] | Week 6 Oct 12[9] | Week 7 Oct 19[10] | Week 8 Oct 26[11] | Week 9 Nov 2[12] | Week 10 Nov 9[13] | Week 11 Nov 16[14] | Week 12 Nov 22[15] | Week 13 (Final) Jan 11[16] | ||
Dropped:
| Dropped: 23. Idaho State | Dropped: 24. Northern Arizona | Dropped: 20. Cal Poly | Dropped: 25. William & Mary | Dropped: 23. North Dakota | Dropped:
| Dropped: 23. Villanova | Dropped:
| Dropped: 23. Indiana State | Dropped: 20. Youngstown State | Dropped:
| Dropped:
| |||
| Preseason Aug 5[17] | Week 1 Sep 7[18] | Week 2 Sep 14[19] | Week 3 Sep 21[20] | Week 4 Sep 28[21] | Week 5 Oct 5[22] | Week 6 Oct 12[23] | Week 7 Oct 19[24] | Week 8 Oct 26[25] | Week 9 Nov 2[26] | Week 10 Nov 9[27] | Week 11 Nov 16[28] | Week 12 Nov 23[29] | Week 13 (Final) Jan 11[30] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | North Dakota State24 | Coastal Carolina4 (1–0) | Coastal Carolina14 (2–0) | Coastal Carolina18 (3–0) | Coastal Carolina17 (4–0) | Coastal Carolina16 (5–0) | Coastal Carolina15 (6–0) | Coastal Carolina15 (6–0) | Coastal Carolina15 (7–0) | Jacksonville State23 (7–1) | Jacksonville State25 (8–1) | Jacksonville State24 (9–1) | Jacksonville State20 (10–1) | North Dakota State25 (13–2) | 1. |
| 2. | Illinois State | North Dakota State6 (0–1) т | North Dakota State (1–1) | North Dakota State4 (2–1) | North Dakota State4 (2–1) | North Dakota State6 (3–1) | North Dakota State5 (4–1) | Jacksonville State5 (5–1) | Jacksonville State8 (6–1) | Illinois State3 (7–1) | McNeese State1 (9–0) | McNeese State2 (9–0) | McNeese State1 (10–0) | Jacksonville State (13–2) | 2. |
| 3. | Villanova | Villanova (0–1) т | Villanova (1–1) | Jacksonville State3 (2–1) | Jacksonville State3 (3–1) | Jacksonville State4 (4–1) | Jacksonville State4 (4–1) | James Madision3 (7–0) | Illinois State3 (6–1) | Chattanooga (7–1) | North Dakota State (7–2) | North Dakota State (8–2) | North Dakota State1 (9–2) | Richmond (10–4) | 3. |
| 4. | Sam Houston State | Sam Houston State2 (0–1) | Jacksonville State5 (1–1) | Villanova (2–1) | Illinois State (2–1) | Illinois State (3–1) | Illinois State (4–1) | Illinois State2 (5–1) | Chattanooga (6–1) | Eastern Washington (6–2) | Coastal Carolina (8–1) | Coastal Carolina (9–1) | Illinois State (9–2) | Sam Houston State (11–4) | 4. |
| 5. | Coastal Carolina | Illinois State6 (0–1) | Sam Houston State (0–1) | Illinois State (2–1) | James Madison1 (4–0) | James Madison (5–0) | James Madison2 (6–0) | Chattanooga (5–1) | Eastern Washington (4–2) | McNeese State (8–0) | South Dakota State (7–2) | South Dakota State (8–2) | Portland State (9–2) | Illinois State (10–3) | 5. |
| 6. | Eastern Washington | Jacksonville State1 (1–0) | Illinois State1 (1–1) | Northern Iowa (2–1) | Northern Iowa (2–1) | Chattanooga (3–1) | Chattanooga (4–1) | South Dakota State (5–1) | North Dakota State (5–2) | North Dakota State (6–2) | Illinois State (7–2) | Illinois State (8–2) | James Madison (9–2) | Northern Iowa (9–5) | 6. |
| 7. | New Hampshire | Eastern Washington (0–1) | Montana (1–1) | South Dakota State1 (2–0) | South Dakota State1 (3–0) | Youngstown State (3–1) | South Dakota State (4–1) | Eastern Washington (3–2) | McNeese State (7–0) | Richmond (7–1) | William & Mary (7–2) | William & Mary (8–2) | Charleston Southern (9–2) | Charleston Southern (10–3) | 7. |
| 8. | Chattanooga | Montana3 (1–1) | South Dakota State2 (2–0) | James Madison (3–0) | Chattanooga (3–1) | Eastern Washington (2–2) | Eastern Washington (3–2) | North Dakota State (4–2) | Richmond (6–1) | Coastal Carolina (7–1) | Charleston Southern (8–1) | Charleston Southern (9–1) | Chattanooga (8–3) | Chattanooga (9–4) | 8. |
| 9. | Jacksonville State | Montana State (1–0) | Montana State (1–0) | Chattanooga (2–1) | Eastern Washington (2–2) | South Dakota State (3–1) | McNeese State (5–0) | McNeese State (6–0) | James Madison (7–1) | Portland State (7–1) | Chattanooga (7–2) | Chattanooga (8–2) | Coastal Carolina (9–2) | McNeese State (10–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Northern Iowa | South Dakota State1 (1–0) | James Madison (2–0) | Liberty (2–1) | Youngstown State (2–1) | Northern Iowa (2–2) | Fordham (5–1) | Sam Houston State (4–2) | Sam Houston State (5–2) | Sam Houston State (6–2) | Eastern Washington (6–3) | James Madison (8–2) | Sam Houston State (8–3) | Portland State (9–3) | 10. |
| 11. | Montana State | James Madison (1–0) | Northern Iowa (1–1) | Eastern Washington (1–2) | Montana State (2–1) | Montana (3–2) | Sam Houston State (3–2) | Fordham (6–1) | Fordham (7–1) | South Dakota State (6–2) | James Madison (7–2) | Portland State (8–2) | Richmond (8–3) | James Madison (9–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Montana | Chattanooga (0–1) | Chattanooga (1–1) | Youngstown State (2–1) | Montana (2–2) | Fordham (4–1) | Youngstown State (3–2) | Richmond (5–1) | Portland State (6–1) | William & Mary (6–2) | Richmond (7–2) | Sam Houston State (7–3) | South Dakota State (8–3) | William & Mary (9–4) | 12. |
| 13. | James Madison | Liberty (1–0) | New Hampshire (1–1) | Montana State (1–1) | Fordham (3–1) | McNeese State (4–0) | Richmond (4–1) | Portland State (5–1) | South Dakota State (5–2) | Charleston Southern (7–1) | Harvard (8–0) | North Carolina A&T (9–1) | William & Mary (8–3) | Colgate (9–5) | 13. |
| 14. | Liberty | Northern Iowa (0–1) | Liberty (1–1) | Sam Houston State (0–2) | Sam Houston State (1–2) | Sam Houston State (2–2) | Northern Iowa (2–3) | Eastern Kentucky (4–2) | Eastern Kentucky (5–2) | James Madison (7–2) | North Carolina A&T (8–1) | Fordham (9–2) | Northern Iowa (7–4) | Montana (8–5) | 14. |
| 15. | South Dakota State | New Hampshire (0–1) | Eastern Washington (0–2) | Montana (1–2) | McNeese State (3–0) | Liberty (3–2) | Eastern Kentucky (3–2) | Harvard (5–0) | William & Mary (5–2) | Harvard (7–0) | Southern Utah (7–2) | Northern Iowa (6–4) | Fordham (9–2) | The Citadel (9–4) | 15. |
| 16. | Youngstown State | Fordham (1–0) | Youngstown State (1–1) | Fordham (2–1) | Portland State (3–0) | Villanova (2–2) | Montana State (3–2) | William & Mary (4–2) | Harvard (6–0) | North Carolina A&T (7–1) | Portland State (7–2) | Richmond (7–3) | Southern Utah (8–3) | South Dakota State (8–4) | 16. |
| 17. | Eastern Kentucky | Youngstown State (0–1) | Southeastern Louisiana (2–0) | McNeese State (2–0) | Villanova (2–2) | Southeastern Louisiana (3–1) | Portland State (4–1) | Youngstown State (3–3) | Montana (4–3) | Fordham (7–2) | Fordham (8–2) | Montana (6–4) | Montana (7–4) | Coastal Carolina (9–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Richmond | Southeastern Louisiana (1–0) | Cal Poly (1–1) | Portland State (2–0) | Liberty 92–2) | Richmond (3–1) | Harvard (4–0) | Montana (3–3) | Montana State (4–3) | Southern Utah (6–2) | Sam Houston State (6–3) | Southern Utah (7–3) | The Citadel (8–3) | Southern Utah (8–4) | 18. |
| 19. | Southeastern Louisiana | Eastern Kentucky (1–0) | Fordham (1–1) | Southeastern Louisiana (2–1) | Southeastern Louisiana (2–1) | Montana State (2–2) | Montana (3–3) | Montana State (3–3) | Charleston Southern (6–1) | Eastern Kentucky (5–3) | Northern Iowa (5–4) | Eastern Washington (6–4) | Harvard (9–1) | Fordham (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Indiana State | Cal Poly (1–0) | Portland State (2–0) | Richmond (2–1) | Richmond (2–1) | Eastern Kentucky 92–2) | New Hampshire (3–2) | Charleston Southern (5–1) | North Carolina A&T (6–1) | Northern Iowa (4–4) | The Citadel (7–2) | Northern Arizona (7–3) | North Carolina A&T (9–2) | Harvard (9–1) | 20. |
| 21. | Fordham | Indiana State (1–0) | McNeese State (1–10) | Eastern Kentucky (1–1) | Eastern Kentucky (2–1) | Indiana State (3–1) | Southeastern Louisiana (3–2) | Indiana State (4–2) | Northern Iowa (3–4) | Youngstown State (4–4) | Youngstown State (5–4) | Harvard (8–1) | Bethune-Cookman (9–2) | North Carolina A&T (10–2) | 21. |
| 22. | Harvard | Richmond (0–1) | Eastern Kentucky (1–1) | Cal Poly (1–2) | William & Mary (2–1) | New Hampshire (3–2) | Liberty (3–3) | Villanova (3–3) | Dartmouth (6–0) | The Citadel (6–2) | Montana (5–4) | Bethune-Cookman (8–2) | Dartmouth (9–1) | Western Illinois (7–6) | 22. |
| 23. | McNeese State | McNeese State (0–0) | Richmond (1–1) | Indiana State (2–1) | New Hampshire (2–2) | Portland State (3–1) | Charleston Southern (4–1) | Western Illinois (4–2) | Indiana State (4–3) | Montana (4–4) | Bethune-Cookman (8–2) | Dartmouth (8–1) | Northern Arizona (7–4) | Eastern Illinois (7–5) | 23. |
| 24. | Idaho State | Idaho State (1–0) | Northern Arizona (2–0) | New Hampshire (1–2) | Indiana State (2–1) | Harvard (3–0) | Villanova (2–3) т | North Carolina A&T (5–1) | Southern Utah (5–2) | Montana State (4–4) | Dartmouth (7–1) | The Citadel (7–3) | Grambling State (8–2) | Dartmouth (9–1) | 24. |
| 25. | Eastern Illinois |
| Indiana State (1–1) | William & Mary (1–1) | Harvard (2–0) | North Dakota (4–1) | William & Mary (3–2) т | Northern Iowa (2–4) | Youngstown State (3–4) | Bethune-Cookman (7–2) | Northern Arizona (6–3) | Central Arkansas (7–3) | Eastern Illinois (7–4) | Bethune-Cookman (9–2) | 25. |
| Preseason Aug 5[17] | Week 1 Sep 7[18] | Week 2 Sep 14[19] | Week 3 Sep 21[20] | Week 4 Sep 28[21] | Week 5 Oct 5[22] | Week 6 Oct 12[23] | Week 7 Oct 19[24] | Week 8 Oct 26[25] | Week 9 Nov 2[26] | Week 10 Nov 9[27] | Week 11 Nov 16[28] | Week 12 Nov 23[29] | Week 13 (Final) Jan 11[30] | ||
| Dropped: 25. Eastern Illinois | Dropped:
| Dropped: 24. Northern Arizona | Dropped: 22. Cal Poly | Dropped: 22. William & Mary | Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped: 21. Youngstown State | Dropped:
| Dropped:
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