A Michigan Wolverines player seemingly tried to headbutt a referee during Saturday’s game against Ohio State, and nobody could believe how the officials handled the situation.
Wolverines linebacker Jaishawn Barham seemingly attempted to headbutt an official during the first quarter of Saturday’s rivalry game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. Barham was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, but somehow was not ejected from the game.
Almost headbutted the ref 😳 pic.twitter.com/C5FhGAKkTx
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 29, 2025
Barham was seemingly trying to demonstrate to officials what he felt Ohio State players were doing. That did not matter to most viewers, who were baffled that the linebacker was not immediately ejected for his actions.
lol how do you headbutt an official and not throw him out?????
— Jack Mac (@JackMacCFB) November 29, 2025
MICHIGAN NEAR HEADBUTT ON OFFICIAL
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 29, 2025
HOW WAS HE NOT EJECTED?!!
So you can headbutt a ref and NOT get ejected??
— Zach Smith (@CoachZachSmith) November 29, 2025
Wow.
*Checks rulebook*
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 29, 2025
Yeah, you can’t headbutt a ref
pic.twitter.com/p3kz8b4Gs3
Regardless of Barham’s intent, the official showed remarkable restraint to not eject him from such a big rivalry game. One could also argue, however, that the crew was far too forgiving.
The Michigan-Ohio State game does have a history of this sort of thing, but it is usually players going against each other. The refs being involved is certainly something new.
