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Michigan LB Jaishawn Barham penalized, not ejected after headbutting an official

IMG_6598by: Nick Kosko8 hours agonickkosko59

Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct in the first quarter vs. Ohio State for contacting an official. The Wolverines’ defender seemed to be arguing with the referee and was unhappy, thus leaning into him and practically headbutted him.

It was Barham’s first unsportsmanlike penalty, so he was not ejected from the game. Instead of a third-and-goal, Ohio State was granted an automatic first down, trailing the Wolverines 6-0.

Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt called Barham “lucky” to not be thrown out. Ohio State scored a touchdown on a one-yard run by QB Julian Sayin on third-and-goal a few plays later, but the score went under review, causing more chaos. After review, he was ruled short and it was fourth and goal for the Buckeyes. Luckily for the Wolverines, the Buckeyes committed a false start penalty and had to settle for a 20-yard field goal, cutting the lead 6-3.

“Wow, that’s a massive mistake. And you know what? I think that Jaishawn Barham is lucky that they didn’t throw him out of the game,” Klatt said on the broadcast. “They have absolutely every right to throw him out and eject him for contacting official in particular with a headbutt like that. And these officials trying to keep themselves out of the game, but a massive penalty, because it goes from third and goal now to first and goal and a new set of downs for Ohio State.”

The senior linebacker came into the day with 31 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks, three pass deflections and one forced fumble. Barham has 192 total tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in his college career since 2022, when he started at Maryland.

As a member of the Class of 2022, Barham was a four-star recruit out of District Heights (M.D.) St. Frances Academy, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. He was the No. 3 overall prospect in the state, the No. 11 linebacker in the class and the No. 145 overall prospect in the class.