One of the controversial moments in Saturday’s edition of The Game between <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/michigan-wolverines/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michigan</a> and <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/ohio-state-buckeyes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ohio State</a> came in the first quarter. Wolverines linebacker <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/jaishawn-barham-53214/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jaishawn Barham</a> appeared to <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/michigan-wolverines/news/michigan-lb-jaishawn-barham-penalized-not-ejected-after-headbutting-an-official/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">headbutt a referee</a> and received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty as a result.



However, Barham was not ejected from the game. During a pool report following Ohio State’s victory, the Big Ten referees explained why.



Head official Kole Knueppel cited Rule 9 in the rulebook, which leaves it up to the official to determine an ejection. Because contact was not deemed “forcible,” Barham could stay in the game.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Referee pool report following today’s Michigan-Ohio State game: <a href="https://t.co/n88saHjW0H">pic.twitter.com/n88saHjW0H</a>— Tony Paul | Detroit News (@TonyPaul1984) <a href="https://twitter.com/TonyPaul1984/status/1994889639602098267?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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“In Rule 9, it’s a judgment call,” <a href="https://x.com/TonyPaul1984/status/1994889639602098267" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Knueppel said</a>. “By the judgment of the official, it wasn’t forcible enough for ejection, but it was an unsportsmanlike.”



Barham appeared to be arguing with the referee and was unhappy with the play. He then lean into official in an apparent headbutt. He received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, but was not ejected. That decision led to <a href="https://www.on3.com/news/terry-mcaulay-calls-out-officials-not-ejecting-jaishawn-barham-following-headbutt-michigan-ohio-state/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">some poignant criticism</a> from NBC rules and analyst and former NFL official Terry McAulay.



“Automatic ejection,” <a href="https://x.com/tjmcaulay/status/1994827529237242365?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McAulay wrote on X in a quote post</a>. “In no universe should he be allowed to play another down.”



On the broadcast, FOX’s Joel Klatt called Barham “lucky” to not be thrown out. Ohio State scored a touchdown on a one-yard run by QB <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/julian-sayin-68682/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Julian Sayin</a> 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.”



Barham came into Michigan vs. Ohio State with 31 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks, three pass deflections and one forced fumble. He has 192 total tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in his college career since 2022, when he started at <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/maryland-terrapins/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maryland</a>.

Jaishawn Barham, Michigan

On3 Football

Big Ten referees defend decision not to eject Jaishawn Barham from Michigan vs. Ohio State after headbutt

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Big Ten referees defend decision not to eject Jaishawn Barham from Michigan vs. Ohio State after headbutt

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