Pete Thamel reveals Ohio State TE Cade Stover's MRI on back was negative

Ohio State tight end Cade Stover was taken to the hospital during Saturday’s College Football Playoff semifinal loss after a tackle with a suspected hip or lower back injury. ESPN’s Pete Thamel updated Stover’s condition Sunday morning.

“Ohio State TE Cade Stover’s MRI on Saturday night came back negative. The MRI revealed back spasms, which knocked him out of the CFP semi-final and sent him to an Atlanta-area hospital for precautionary reasons,” sources Thamel.

Stover was the Buckeyes top tight end this season, and his presence was certainly missed throughout the 42-41 loss to Georgia. He finished the season with 36 receptions for 406 yards and five touchdowns before going down with the scary injury.

Kirk Herbstreit: ‘Could not be more proud’ of Ryan Day, CJ Stroud and Ohio State

Kirk Herbstreit had nothing but praise for Ryan Day, CJ Stroud and Ohio Statefollowing their heartbreaking loss to Georgia on Saturday.

While their recent loss against Michigan may have sent the media after them like a pack of dogs, Herbstreit stated that the vibe should be completely different around the Buckeyes’ loss to the Bulldogs.

“Thirty-five days of scrutiny,” Herbstreit said. “Every time they did an interview down here in Atlanta, it’s ‘why should you be here? How can you win against Georgia?’ They get very defensive and I think they got very frustrated. They showed up as an angry football team tonight.

“I walk out of here — of course, it’s about Georgia advancing — could not be more proud of Ryan Day, CJ Stroud, and Ohio State and the way they played. And the way they laid it on the line tonight. That’s all you can ask for. You’re going to lose some of those games. You play the way they did tonight — to me, you walk out disappointed but not the way you felt when you lost to Michigan.”

Ohio State played their hearts out when most people didn’t give them a chance, and CJ Stroud did everything he could to lead them to victory. They can hold their heads up high, as Kirk Herbstreit said, as they clean out their lockers and move on to 2023.