Michigan LB Jaishawn Barham appears to headbutt official during loss to Ohio State

It didn’t take long for things to get chippy during this year’s rivalry showdown between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 15 Michigan. Emotions always run high in the Big Ten clash.

That’s why it’s all the more important for players to keep their heads in the game.

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Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham directed his toward an official, and that ill-advised decision resulted in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that gifted the Buckeyes another fresh set of downs at the goal line.

Following a Michigan tackle for loss on second-and-goal at the doorstep of his own end zone, Barham appeared to headbutt an official. Why exactly is unclear, however. The incident occurred while an official was face-to-face and exchanging words with Barham.

Barham, in his second season with the Wolverines after transferring from Maryland, came into the matchup ranked second on the team with four sacks and tied for sixth with 31 total tackles.

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He was part of Michigan’s promising start to Saturday’s contest, which saw the Wolverines march down the field for a game-opening field goal and then add another three points after picking off Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin inside Buckeyes territory.

While Barham’s penalty gave Ohio State another first-and-goal, Michigan still held the Buckeyes to a chip-shot field goal on that drive. Barham was just fortunate he didn’t get ejected for his extracurricular activity.

Ultimately, it didn’t matter.

Barham and the Michigan defense couldn’t stop Ohio State’s offense on the final drive of the first half and throughout the second half in a 27-9 defeat.

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Sayin threw for 233 yards and three touchdowns, and the Buckeyes added another 186 yards on the ground. Meanwhile, Michigan’s offense could only muster 163 total yards against a vaunted Ohio State defense, as the Buckeyes snapped the Wolverines’ four-game winning streak in “The Game.”