Michigan will be shorthanded against Oklahoma, Sherrone Moore confirms

Michigan football won't have linebacker Jaishawn Barham against Oklahoma on Saturday night after one of the worst targeting calls in college football history was upheld, according to Sherrone Moore.

The Michigan football head coach said the appeal on the call, which occurred in the third quarter of Michigan's win over New Mexico on Saturday night, was upheld. That means that Barham, who missed the second half on Saturday, will miss the first half of the Oklahoma game.

Moore "completely disagrees" with the ruling, according to Brice Marich of The Michigan Insider, but what's done is done. Barham, one of Michigan's best defenders won't get to play for half of the Wolverines first key game due to a normal football play.

It's hard to believe a flag was called. It's even more difficult to believe it was upheld, but it doesn't change the fact that the imact linebacker won't be on the field, leaving the Wolverines shorthanded.

How shorthanded will Michigan football be with Jaishawn Barham?

The good news for Michigan football is that linebacker is one of the deepest positions on the roster. Cole Sullivan took the place of Barham and made a huge impact in the second half with a sack, as well as interception.

Sullivan was one of Michigan's breakout candidates this season. He was going to play a lot, regardless of the Barham suspension, Michigan will just need to rely on him even more in the first half against Oklahoma.

Ernest Hausmann will be there, too, which will help, along with Jimmy Rolder, a dude with plenty of experience. Therefore, Michigan's defense should be able to survive without Barham, but in a game of this magnitude, any single play can make the difference.

It's disappointing that Michigan will be without one of its best players for half the game, because he was guilty of playing football.