The college football world was waiting for a classic matchup: Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry vs. the stingy Michigan State defense.

But Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin made us wait longer. And as it turned out, the matchup had little, if any, impact on the outcome, a 38-0 Alabama victory. Unless Kiffin was using Ridley as a decoy.

The Crimson Tide offense relied on its passing game to pull away for the College Football Playoff semifinal victory Thursday night at AT&T Stadium.

The Tide ran six plays before finally giving the ball to Henry, who carried 90 times for 460 yards in the Tide’s previous two victories over Auburn and Florida.

Henry finished with only 75 yards on 20 carries. He did score two touchdowns.

If Kiffin was trying to fool Michigan State or trying to goad the Spartans into focusing less attention on Henry, the tactic didn’t work. Well, not early.

Michigan State was ready for Henry. The Spartans defensive line held tough, giving Henry no place to run. At halftime, Henry had only 38 yards on 13 carries — less than three yards per carry.

The Spartans defensive line often forced the powerful Henry to run wide instead of straight ahead, getting several defenders in on the tackles.

The Spartans defense was celebrating in the first half. Lineman Malik McDowell mocked Henry with a Heisman pose after tackling the Alabama star for a 1-yard loss in the second quarter before Alabama broke a scoreless tie on Henry’s 1-yard TD run after a 50-yard pass from Jacob Coker to Calvin Ridley.

The second half started much the same for Henry, who lost 1 yard on his first carry.

But Alabama’s passing game did more damage led by Coker, who completed 25 of 30 passes for 286 yards, and Ridley, who continued to dominate the Michigan State secondary and finished with eight receptions for 138 yards and two TDs.

The Tide’s success throwing the ball may prevent championship game opponent Clemson from focusing on stopping Henry as a way to shut down its offense.

Ridley made an outstanding catch in the end zone, taking the ball away from Michigan State’s Jermaine Edmondson before stepping out of bounds for a 6-yard TD. After Cyrus Jones’ 57-yard punt return for a TD, Coker hooked up with an open Ridley on a 50-yard scoring pass.

The Tide’s longest run of the night, a 58-yard run by Kenyan Drake in the fourth quarter, set up Henry’s second TD run, an 11-yarder.