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Terry McAulay calls out officials for not ejecting Jaishawn Barham following headbutt

ns_headshot_2024-clearby: Nick Schultz11/29/25NickSchultz_7

In the first quarter of Ohio State vs. Michigan, Wolverines linebacker Jaishawn Barham was not ejected after appearing to headbutt an official. NBC rules analyst and former NFL referee Terry McAulay disagreed with that decision.

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 stayed in the game.

To McAulay, though, Barham should have been ejected. He didn’t understand how the Michigan defender was able to continue playing.

“Automatic ejection,” McAulay wrote on X in a quote post. “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 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.”

Barham came into the day 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 Maryland.

Saturday’s installment of “The Game” has plenty at stake for both teams. Ohio State can clinch a spot in the Big Ten Championship with a victory, while Michigan can not only get a fifth straight win over the Buckeyes, but punch its ticket by doing so – though the Wolverines would need some help.

Nick Kosko contributed.