ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham was flagged for heat-butting an official Saturday during the first quarter against Ohio State -- but he was not ejected.
The unsportsmanlike penalty happened after the Wolverines forced a third-and-goal from the 5-yard line. Barham was speaking to the official when he lowered his helmet into the official's nose.
The penalty gave Ohio State an automatic first down at the Michigan 2-yard line. But the Wolverines still forced the Buckeyes into settling for a field goal.
Big Ten referee Kole Knueppel explained the decision not to eject Barham afterward.
"In Rule 9, it's a judgment call," Knueppel said. "By the judgment of the official, it wasn't forcible enough for ejection, but it was an unsportsmanlike."