• Loading stock data...
Friday, June 27, 2025
Front Office Sports Launches Front Office Sports Studios Learn More

LSU Athletic Department Reports $4 Million Deficit Despite Multiple National Championships

  • In the 2022-2023 school year, the Tigers generated $200 million but spent around $204 million.
  • An increase in women’s basketball media rights should provide a boost to the program’s deficit.
LSU
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

LSU athletics are in the negative—a recent financial report shows the athletic department had a nearly $4 million deficit last school year.

The department generated about $200 million, more than half of which came from the football team, and spent around $204 million, per the state’s legislative auditor. The deficit stands at $3.87 million. Football, which generated nearly $106 million in revenues, had a profit of $54 million. That’s up nearly $18.4 million from the previous season, last year’s report shows.

During the 2022-2023 school year, the Tigers won national championships in women’s basketball and baseball, and individual championships in women’s swimming and diving and men’s and women’s track and field.

Women’s basketball wasn’t as successful in the charts as on the court—the program produced nearly $2.5 million, but expensed about $10.3 million. The largest portion ($4.4 million) went to Kim Mulkey and her coaching staff, about equal to men’s basketball coaching salaries and benefits, though far below the more than $18 million for the same category in football. One reason for the deficit: Media rights revenues are only listed for football and men’s basketball, which could change on Sept. 1 with the new eight-year agreement for women’s college sports.

Men’s basketball generated $1.3 million in profits, a slight dip from the previous year. The report clumps the baseball team with all non-football and basketball teams. “Other sports” had a nearly $26 million deficit, about the same amount as “non-program specific” finances.

For all sports, staffing represented the biggest chunk of the expenses, while other contributors were travel, facilities, and game expenses. Interestingly, the school shelled out roughly $5 million in severance payments, almost the same amount for recruiting.

LSU is coming off some recent budget mishaps: Last year’s report revealed that the school overpaid head football coach Brian Kelly by over $1 million. Also, it misclassified about $6.7 million in severance payments.

The $4 million deficit is a dip from 2021-2022, where the school made about $2 million in profits. The year prior, the athletic department clocked a $9.6 million deficit largely due to decreased ticket sales during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Sabrina Ionescu with the New York Liberty shots over defenders from the Toyota Antelopes during the first half at Matthew Knight Arena May 12, 2025 in Eugene.

How Preseason Games Have Become a Key Revenue Stream for WNBA Teams

The WNBA’s preseason featured four games played on college campuses.

Colleges Are Raising Student Fees to Pay for Athlete Revenue-Sharing

Schools are preparing to pay student athletes up to $20.5 million annually.
Mar 15, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UAB Blazers forward Yaxel Lendeborg (3) dribbles the ball upcourt against the North Texas Mean Green during the first half at Dickies Arena

NIL Is Shrinking the Pool of NBA Draft Entrants

Agents are now advising many players to stay in school.

Pac-12 Still Playing Conference Tetris As Realignment Heats Up

Sacramento State is leaving the Big Sky for the Big West.

Featured Today

Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena

Stanley Cup’s International Summer Tour: Rules, Repairs, and Raucousness

No pro trophy tour compares to the NHL’s three-month global victory lap.
Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter on the red carpet before the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field
June 21, 2025

‘More Is More’: The Elite Luxury Jewelers Decking Out Athletes

Meet the elite group of luxury designers crafting the biggest statement pieces.
Dec 5, 2024; Miami, FL, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino presents the FIFA Club World Cup trophy during the Club Word Cup draw at Telemundo Studios.
June 15, 2025

Revamped Club World Cup Is FIFA’s Billion-Dollar Gamble

The revamped soccer event debuts amid controversy.
Jun 10, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino stands during the anthem against the Switzerland during the first at Geodis Park
June 14, 2025

Gold Cup Is Complicated for USMNT—but U.S. Soccer Has Its Eyes on..

Uncertain tournament success isn’t fazing forward-looking U.S. soccer.
Mar 23, 2025; Raleigh, NC, USA; Baylor Bears guard Jeremy Roach (3) reacts after a play during the first half against the Duke Blue Devils in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Lenovo Center.

Power Four Put Finishing Touches on How Revenue Sharing Era Will Work

The agreement stipulates that schools can’t sue to challenge any terms of the settlement.
Sep 16, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; Sacramento State Hornets running back Elijah Tau-Tolliver (25) celebrates after a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium.
June 25, 2025

Sacramento State ‘Full Steam Ahead’ for FBS Despite Not Receiving NCAA Waiver

The Hornets launched a public campaign to join the FBS last fall.
June 26, 2025

Pac-12 Rebuild Nears Completion With 2026 Texas State Addition

The Sun Belt school is likely joining the Pac-12 in 2026.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
Jun 7, 2025; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina infielder Jackson Van De Brake (6) and outfielder Carter French (18) celebrate an out during the first inning of the Super Regionals game against Arizona in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
June 25, 2025

Most Power Conference Sports Won’t See Revenue-Sharing Dollars

But there is a silver lining for Olympic sports: more scholarships.
Dec 27, 2024; San Diego, CA, USA; The Washington State Cougars ban perform during the second half at the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium. Mandatory Credit:
June 23, 2025

Pac-12 Announces CBS As ‘Anchor’ in New Media-Rights Deal

The league may announce expansion before finalizing the rest of the package.
Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas (6) is shown during the first quarter of their game against South Dakota Saturday, September 7 , 2024 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
June 20, 2025

Wisconsin Sues Miami for ‘Tampering’ With Football Transfer

Xavier Lucas signed NIL deals in Madison before transferring to Miami.
June 19, 2025

Omaha Delivers Again: LSU, Coastal Carolina Set for CWS Showdown

LSU and Coastal Carolina begin their three-game series Saturday.