Bullough, whirring across the field, popped Terrapins’ receiver D.J. Moore, helmets smacking as the two fell to the turf. Flags flew and upon review, the call was upheld.

It was a bang-bang play, warranting a review, but Bullough had no case for innocence. After incurring two personal fouls prior, both for over-aggression, his chances of escaping a targeting became minimal.

“I thought we came out with a lot of energy, so it was upsetting for me to have to leave in the first quarter, but I've learned from it, and I'm just moving on,” Bullough said.

Voted captain in the preseason, he had become the unquestioned leader of the defense. Leading the team in tackles last season, he forged his niche out of a lineage of tough football forefathers.

But last Saturday his game had gone too far, perhaps out of frustration; he picked up a flag for a late hit out of bounds on the first drive. The ensuing drive he knocked down Maryland quarterback Perry Hills after the throw, giving Maryland an extra 15 yards.

The next play Bullough snuffed out running back Lorenzo Harrison for a six-yard loss which was followed up with the targeting call.

Maryland was gifted 45 free yards from Bullough’s actions. Thirty yards on its 96-yard drive were picked up by Bullough. It underscored a night full of mistakes from fifth-year seniors, who head coach Mark Dantonio has backed time and again throughout the year.

“He had three personal fouls in the first quarter, had an out-of-bounds, a hands-to-the-face on a rush, and then he had that third one, so that’s very uncommon, but I can’t just stop it,” Dantonio said. “I’ll complain, but the complaining really doesn’t seem to do much good, so I’m best to keep my composure and try and continue on.”

Dantonio expressed frustration with the calls, wondering exactly how to coach around those plays.

“Obviously the helmet-to-helmet hits are just — I saw the Penn State guy get thrown out when he was trying to make an interception,” Dantonio said. “I mean, they’re just — I don’t know what to tell a guy sometimes. A guy is trying to make a play.”

The struggling defense was thought to have been bolstered by Bullough’s return against Northwestern after having been out following an injury in week two against Notre Dame. MSU, however, gave up 54 points against the Wildcats, despite Bullough’s 12 tackles.

Junior Shane Jones was thrust into the starting roll of linebackers following the injuries to junior Jon Reschke and Bullough. Over a seven game case study, both Bullough and Jones have amassed 26 tackles respectively.

Though Bullough left against Maryland, freshman Joe Bachie replaced him efficiently. Bachie recorded seven tackles including 1.5 for loss.

Junior linebacker Chris Frey, the lone uninjured starter for the Spartans for the majority of the year, praised Bachie for his efforts, especially on the road and without prior experience.

“I feel like he took control of the defense and became the leader that we needed: someone who could make the play calls and do their job,” Frey said. “I think he did a good job for his first time being out on that big of a stage.”

Bachie’s performance even elicited high marks from Bullough.

“Coming in as a true freshman and that being his first time playing, I thought he did a great job, and there was a lot of things that he can learn from the film, which we already went over,” Bullough said. “I think that overall experience for him was good.”

The targeting call, however, will not be a further detriment to the Spartans, as Bullough will be allowed to play in the game against University of Michigan. Since Bullough was ejected in the first half, he missed having to sit out the first half against U-M.