Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham will miss the first half of Saturday’s showdown against Oklahoma after his targeting ejection was upheld, and the ruling has drawn heavy criticism across the college football world.
Among the most vocal detractors is FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt, who blasted the NCAA’s targeting policy and called the rules committee “spineless” for failing to address one of the sport’s most controversial penalties.
Did Joel Klatt Call Out the Targeting Rule?
Klatt didn’t hold back when analyzing Barham’s ejection, which came late in Michigan’s win last weekend. The star linebacker appeared to have recorded a strip sack that turned into a scoop-and-score, but officials overturned the play after ruling that Barham targeted the quarterback.
“The rules committee is totally spineless when it comes to the targeting call.”@joelklatt reacts to Michigan LB Jaishawn Barham’s ejection due to targeting in Saturday’s game. pic.twitter.com/O7emZ20NI9
— The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football on FOX Pod (@JoelKlattShow) September 3, 2025
“I can’t stand the targeting penalty. It’s terrible,” Klatt said. “Attaching an automatic ejection and suspension to it is one of the worst things we do in our sport.”
Klatt went on to break down the play, noting that Barham turned his head to the side, wrapped up the quarterback, and made incidental high contact.
“Letter of the law, maybe it qualifies,” Klatt admitted. “But it has to be forcible. In this case, with the wrap-up, I think it was the wrong call. What do we want the defender to do? Barham was making a football play.”
A Call for Two Levels of Targeting
For Klatt, the issue goes beyond Barham’s suspension. He argued that the rules committee has failed the sport by not differentiating between malicious hits and routine football plays.
Jaishawn Barham is a DAWG pic.twitter.com/JLjqkPGnWR
— uofmcoverage (@uofmcoverage) August 31, 2025
“The fact that we don’t have two different categories of targeting is a massive fail in college football,” Klatt said. “It’s asinine that Barham’s play carries the same suspension as someone lowering their crown and spearing an opponent. Those are two totally different things.”
Klatt’s comments highlight a growing frustration among fans, players, and coaches who believe the targeting rule, while well-intentioned for player safety, has become overly punitive.
Michigan Adjusting Without Jaishawn Barham
For Michigan, losing Barham is a significant blow. The sophomore linebacker was second on the team in tackles last season and plays a critical role in the Wolverines’ defense.
Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale addressed the setback during the Inside Michigan Football podcast on Monday, emphasizing the team’s depth at linebacker.
“It’s next man up,” Martindale said. “Jimmy Rolder made some really good plays. Ernest Hausmann was outstanding, he got a game ball from Sherrone after the game. Our depth showed up, and I was really happy for the players.”
Still, Barham’s absence against Oklahoma looms large, as the Sooners boast one of the most explosive offenses in the nation.
KEEP READING: Sherrone Moore Reveals LB Jaishawn Barham’s Fate vs Oklahoma As He Announces Injury Updates
The controversy surrounding Barham’s suspension underscores a broader debate about targeting in college football. While the rule is designed to protect players, critics argue that the current system punishes defenders unfairly and changes the outcome of games.
With Joel Klatt leading the charge, the pressure is mounting on the NCAA rules committee to revisit the penalty before more players, and teams, suffer the consequences.