Louisiana’s Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards is facing a sizable problem: The state is required to balance its budget by the end of each fiscal year (as most states are), and facing a deficit of $940 million, they need to figure out a way to close that gap before the books are due on June 30th, according to The Times-Picayune.

(AP)

Edwards wants to close the gap with new round of tax increases that opposing lawmakers are firmly against, with the state treasurer calling it the “largest tax increase in the history of Louisiana.” But Edwards maintains he has no choice, and in a televised speech to the state on Thursday night, said that even Louisiana State’s football program would be placed on the chopping block if tax increases aren’t implemented.

Speaking about Louisiana’s state-funded universities:

“Without legislators approving new revenue this special session, some campuses will be forced to declare financial bankruptcy, which would include massive layoffs and the cancellation of classes.

“If you are a student attending one of these universities, it means that you will receive a grade of incomplete, many students will not be able to graduate and student athletes across the state at those schools will be ineligible to play next semester. That means you can say farewell to college football next fall.”

[presto-gallery id=”78659570″ title=”Projecting the 2016 Top 25″ type=”presto”]