There is no more fiery college football rivalry than Michigan and Ohio State, and early on in Saturday’s game, Wolverines linebacker Jaishawn Barham almost cost his team dearly as a result of a blowup.
Michigan opened the game with a pair of field goals to take a 6–0 lead over the Buckeyes, taking advantage of a rare interception by OSU quarterback Julian Sayin to set up the second kick. The Buckeyes offense went down the field on the ensuing drive, and after a third-and-goal stop, Barham got into an official’s face and made contact with his nose. It wasn’t the most violent of head butts, but was likely enough to earn him an ejection.
Instead, the official issued Barham an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, keeping him in the game but putting him on the edge of ejection with another such flag. More importantly, it gave Ohio State a first down and a chance to score a go-ahead touchdown.
Almost headbutted the ref 😳 pic.twitter.com/C5FhGAKkTx
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 29, 2025
The stout Michigan defense held firm, stuffing CJ Donaldson twice and Sayin once on a sneak that was initially ruled a touchdown but overturned. After a false start, the Buckeyes settled for a field goal, bailing Barham out.
Members of the media as well as fans online, especially those clad in scarlet and gray, couldn’t believe that Barham was allowed to remain in the game. They were also a bit despondent over Fox’s tweet saying that Barham “almost” head butted the ref, given the pretty clear contact with his nose.
Possibly the dumbest penalty in college football history by Jaishawn Barham.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) November 29, 2025
“Almost” the refs face is smushed in pic.twitter.com/LoMM7jCiZB
— MSU Chief of Propaganda (@OdellBretthamJr) November 29, 2025
Almost? pic.twitter.com/9ChzLG3K6Z
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnor) November 29, 2025
Headbutting an official might be the single dumbest thing I've ever seen a player do. Jaishawn Barham what are you doing sir.
— Eddie Radosevich (@Eddie_Rado) November 29, 2025
Pretty sure Barham was showing the official what the Ohio State player did to him. Not that I think it was a wise choice.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) November 29, 2025
Oh my God.
— Grant Smith Ellis (@GrantSmithEllis) November 29, 2025
Michigan's Jaishawn Barham just attempted a headbutt on an official during the Ohio State vs Michigan Game and was not thrown out!
How can that happen? pic.twitter.com/iRRfKnVoel
Barham lost his mind. I can’t believe he wasn’t ejected. The referee showed more composure than he did.
— Matt M (@madaj13198) November 29, 2025
Barham is very lucky—both that Ohio State didn’t turn the penalty into a touchdown, and that he didn’t make more significant contact with the official, which could have led to a very ugly scene early on in Ann Arbor.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as College Football Fans Couldn’t Believe Michigan Player Wasn’t Ejected for Head Butting Official.
