Penn State transfer Puff Johnson’s request for an injunction against the NCAA that would allow him to play for Ohio State this season on a sixth year of eligibility was denied on Tuesday.

Ohio State basketball player Puff Johnson's motion for a temporary restraining order to allow him to play this season has been denied. https://t.co/uTqkZiT4FT pic.twitter.com/fcRvt7zlD8

— Sam C. Ehrlich (@samcehrlich) November 11, 2025

Johnson filed a legal complaint against the NCAA in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio last week, alleging that the NCAA violated antitrust law by denying his request for a medical hardship waiver. The court determined that Johnson “has failed to establish a likelihood of success on the merits for his Sherman Act claim.”

In U.S. District Judge James Graham’s explanation for denying Johnson‘s request, he noted that Johnson “can only articulate harms which are particular to himself, and he does not identify how the restriction harms market competition.” Graham also wrote that “there is no dispute that Plaintiff does not qualify for a hardship waiver under the NCAA Bylaws,” given that Johnson played in more than 30% of Penn State’s games, the limit to receive a medical hardship waiver, during the 2024-25 season.

Johnson, in conjunction with Ohio State, has also filed an appeal with the NCAA after it denied his request for a medical hardship waiver. But the denial of his court motion makes it unlikely he’ll be able to play for the Buckeyes this season.

Ohio State had hoped to add Johnson – who enrolled at Ohio State in July – to its roster as a 15th play for the 2025-26 season. The Buckeyes currently have just 14 players, one below the 15-man roster limit. Johnson, who played for North Carolina for three years before two seasons at Penn State, averaged 10.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game in 17 games for Penn State last season.