Alabama found a solution when Michigan State showed an ability to contain Derrick Henry in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl.

Jake Coker completed 25 of 30 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns as the Crimson Tide rolled to a 38-0 victory.

Can the Tide throw the ball as effectively if Clemson has similar success against Henry, who finished with 75 yards on 20 carries against Michigan State after managing only 38 yards on 13 carries in the first half?

It won’t be easy. The Tigers have two future NFL cornerbacks, Mackensie Alexander and Cordrea Tankserley.

The 5-foot-11 Alexander, a redshirt sophomore, has been projected by some scouts as a first-round NFL Draft pick. He hasn’t allowed a touchdown pass in 23 games.

Oklahoma completed only two passes for 27 yards against Alexander, who is confident about his ability to stop Alabama standout freshman Calvin Ridley. Notre Dame’s Will Fuller, who had more than 1,200 yards receiving on the season, caught only two passes for 37 yards against Alexander and the Tigers.

The 6-1 Ridley leads Alabama with 1,031 receiving yards and seven TDs. He caught eight passes of at least 40 yards, including two 50-yarders against Michigan State.

“He ain’t Will Fuller fast,” Alexander said comparing Ridley to Notre Dame’s star receiver. “I’m fast, too. So there’s no biggie. There’s no big deal. This is not my first rodeo.

“Football is easy. If you dedicate your time into it, football is easy. Once you understand what’s going on, who he is and what he does, how he makes his plays, it’s like taking candy from a baby.”

Can Ridley use his quick release to escape the clutches of the physical Alexander?

Texas A&M secondary coach Terry Joseph told ESPN.com that Alexander presents an unusual challenge.

“He’s a bigger guy who is used to playing physical,” Joseph said of Alexander. “He does have the skill set to match up with [Ridley] and obviously, Alexander has played a lot more ball at this level than Calvin has.”

How Clemson will matchup on defense with Alabama receivers Ridley, ArDarius Stewart and Richard Mullaney is one of the biggest questions for the Tide offense.

Tankersley, a junior, is also projected to go in the first three rounds of the draft. Often busy with opponents choosing to avoid Alexander, the 6-1 Tankersley has five interceptions.

The Tigers also expect to have star DE Shaq Lawson, who had 10.5 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss, back in the lineup, though he may not be at full speed after suffering a sprained MCL early in the Tigers’ semifinal victory over Oklahoma.