By JIM BUTLER

Compliance audits required by the NCAA affirm football is king — on both sides of the ledger — of Louisiana university athletics.

Reports issued as the Super Bowl approaches show gridiron revenue at six schools – McNeese, ULM, Nicholls, Southeastern, La Tech and ULL – totaled $30.4 million in the year ending last June 30. Total athletic income including institutional support was $119.5 million. Total athletic expense was $135.3 million.

The big kid on the block – LSU- had football income of $106 million. Its football program expenses totaled $51.6 million.

The total LSU athletic income was $200.5 million and expenses were $204.4 million Overall, the universities had total athletic revenue of $320 million and expenses of $339.7 million.

Northwestern is not included in the calculations because its audit report is not yet available.

In the previous fiscal year audit NSU had football revenue of $2.2 million. Total athletic revenue was $13.5 million and expenses were $13.2 million.

Only McNeese ended the latest audit year in the black, at $15 million in and $14.9 million out.

Other year-end numbers: ULM -$1.7 million; Nicholls -$1.6 million, Southeastern -$900,000, La Tech -$3.9 million, ULL -$8.2 million, LSU -$3.9 million.

Basketball expenses far exceeded revenues except at Southeastern where specific sport expenses were held to budgeted dollars.

LSU’s national championship women’s basketball program had revenue of $2.5 million and expenses of $10.3 million.

The baseball team also won a national championship but its numbers are included in “other”, which had revenue of $11.6 million and expenses of $37.6 million.

Other also includes softball, track and field and all other intercollegiate sports the university offers.