‘Cannot believe my eyes’ – Michigan star avoids being tossed out of game despite headbutting referee in Ohio State clash

In rivalry week of the college football season, it is normal to accept that there may be some brawls between teams as emotions run high.

What is unfathomable, though, is that a player from one team gets so frustrated with an official that they engage a physical altercation.

X/ @BleacherReport

Yet that is exactly what transpired.

During the epic Big 10 clash between No. 15 Michigan and No. 1 Ohio State at Ann Arbor – the chosen location of for this week’s ESPN College GameDay – Wolverines linebacker Jaishawn Barham appeared to direct his head towards an official in the first quarter of the game.

Barham’s reckless decision saw him called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which gifted the Buckeyes a fresh set of downs at the goal line after they got themselves into a 3rd & goal situation trailing 6-0.

The moment of madness occurred following a tackle for loss on Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, with it unclear what prompted such an aggressive action towards the official following an exchanging of words.

Despite this, the Michigan linebacker was allowed to continue in “the game “The Game”, which sent social media into an uproar.

“I cannot believe my eyes. A player from Michigan just headbutted a referee in the face and was not thrown out of the game. What does it take to get ejected? You gotta shoot somebody? That’s unbelievable,” one fan posted to X (formerly Twitter).

“Jaishawn Barham just headbutted a ref… got flagged… and stayed in the game. College football is basically WWE now,” another fan commented.

“Bro forgot what sport he signed up for — man thinks he’s in the UFC instead of the Big Ten,” a third joked.

“If I headbutt someone with a football helmet on, I would go to jail for assault,” a fourth said.

Barham is in his second season with Michigan after having transferred from Maryland in 2024.

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In his four-year career, he has recorded 192 tackles, of which 119 are solo, as well as 23 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.

The 21-year-old even recorded an interception which he returned for 11 yards, as well as one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Heading into the clash against the Buckeyes, he ranked second on the team in sacks with four), whilst he was tied for sixth with 31 total tackles on the 2025 season.

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