There is a long time between the end of the season and the bowl game. Michigan State and Alabama are going to be sitting around for a month before they can finally get on the field and face off for a shot at the national championship in the Cotton Bowl Classic.

And the Spartans had to watch Derrick Henry win the Heisman Trophy in the process too.

Michigan State’s linebackers are getting ready. And they are waiting for their chance at tackling the Crimson Tide’s star running back.

“We are going to have to hit him harder – harder than we’ve ever hit anyone else,” Michigan State linebacker John Reschke told SpartanTailgate.com. “It’s a challenge we are accepting.”

The battle between the Crimson Tide’s 13th ranked rush offense by S&P+ against the Spartans’ 21st ranked rush defense will be incredibly interesting. And Michigan State seems up for the challenge.

At least they are talking a good game.

Reschke and fellow linebacker Riley Bullough congratulated Henry on his Heisman win on Twitter in an effort to show they were already thinking about him and ready to stop him.

The coaches were not too thrilled at that tweet from their star linebacker, even if things like this appear to be part of his personality.

The unstoppable force faces the immovable object in just 10 days for a spot in the national championship game.