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2025-2026 Ohio State Men's Basketball
- By DZ83CK
- Buckeye Basketball
- 191 Replies
Right, so as I understand it, his argument to get the extra year comes down to PSU clearing him to play when he was still injured and playing him when he was still injured 2 games more than allowed. I didn't realize what he went through exactly last year, but if a school did clear a player and put him out there when he was still injured 2 games beyond the cut-off, that's a pretty good justification for not counting that year against him.Penn State Transfer Puff Johnson Files Lawsuit Against NCAA After Seeking Medical Hardship Waiver to Play for Ohio State
By Dan Hope on November 6, 2025 at 12:38 am @dan_hope
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A potential addition to the Ohio State men’s basketball team is suing the NCAA after his request for a medical hardship waiver was denied.
Puff Johnson, who previously played for Penn State and North Carolina, filed a legal complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio against the NCAA on Wednesday. Johnson is seeking the opportunity to play for Ohio State this season after his request for a medical hardship waiver was denied.
According to the complaint, which was shared publicly by attorney Mit Winter, Johnson – who enrolled at Ohio State in July – sought a medical hardship waiver in conjunction with Ohio State to play for the Buckeyes this season. While Johnson has not been formally added to Ohio State’s roster, the complaint states that Johnson was offered a scholarship to play for the Buckeyes.
Johnson argues that he should be eligible for a medical hardship waiver due to a multitude of injuries he suffered over the past five years. He alleges that the denial of his waiver violates the Sherman Antitrust Act as well as Ohio’s Valentine Act.
As a freshman at North Carolina in 2020-21, Johnson suffered a broken foot that “severely limited his participation.” After returning to competition midway through his sophomore season, Johnson battled patellar fat pad inflammation that caused him to miss time in his junior season.
Johnson tore his patellar tendon after transferring to Penn State in 2023, causing him to miss multiple games. He was limited to 17 games for Penn State last season due to a heel stress fracture, a right wrist injury, a concussion and a broken right hand.
In addition to his physical injuries, Johnson has also been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and has “experienced family emergencies and mental health challenges” during his college career, according to the complaint.
The NCAA denied Johnson’s request because he played in more than 30% of Penn State’s games, the limit to receive a medical hardship waiver, during the 2024-25 season. Johnson and Ohio State “timely appealed the NCAA’s denial, acknowledging that Johnson appeared in more than thirty percent (30%) of Penn State’s games but emphasizing the extraordinary and extenuating medical circumstances that characterized his 2024–2025 season.” The appeal stated that Johnson’s wrist injury was misdiagnosed and that he should not have been cleared to return to play.
Collectively, Johnson has played in 114 games over the past five years, using the fifth year of eligibility all athletes received due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to play for Penn State last season. That said, the complaint argues that Johnson should be eligible for a medical hardship year because he missed 54 total games over those five years due to his injuries.
The NCAA has not yet issued a decision on Johnson’s appeal. However, Johnson is seeking an injunction against the NCAA that would require it to “immediately issue a waiver” to allow him to play for Ohio State this season.
Penn State Transfer Puff Johnson Files Lawsuit Against NCAA After Seeking Medical Hardship Waiver to Play for Ohio State
Puff Johnson, a Penn State transfer who sought a medical hardship waiver to play basketball for Ohio State this season, is suing the NCAA after his waiver request was denied.www.elevenwarriors.com
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2026 PA DB Jay Timmons is a Buckeye!!!
- By heisman
- Football Recruiting
- 30 Replies
Your answer wasn’t wrong. Crootin’ changed the question.
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2026 PA DB Jay Timmons is a Buckeye!!!
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 30 Replies
Ill happily be wrong if it's to favor the Buckeyes!Crootin’!
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