Puff Johnson's eligibility saga has finally reached a resolution, giving Ohio State basketball a boost for the remainder of the season. A Franklin County judge granted Johnson a preliminary injunction on Monday, ensuring he can continue to play in his sixth and final college basketball season. This decision follows an earlier temporary restraining order from January 17, which also favored Johnson against the NCAA.
Johnson's journey to secure his eligibility has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. Initially denied a medical hardship waiver that would have automatically granted him a sixth year, Johnson took legal action against the NCAA in November. While a federal court initially ruled against him, Johnson found success in state court, a move that has added an intriguing layer to eligibility rule cases.
Since securing his temporary restraining order, Johnson has appeared in seven games for the Buckeyes, averaging three points and one rebound over 13 minutes per game. While his contributions have mostly come off the bench, injuries to John Mobley Jr. and Devin Royal gave Johnson his first start of the season against Michigan State. In that game, he logged two points in 20 minutes.
Johnson's collegiate journey has been a well-traveled one. Before joining Ohio State for the 2025-26 season, he spent two years at Penn State, where his standout season in 2024-25 saw him average 10.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game. His career began with three seasons at North Carolina, where he never averaged more than 4.1 points per game.
With Devin Royal expected to return soon, Johnson will likely revert to his role off the bench. However, his performance against USC on February 11, where he scored eight points, hints at his potential to provide valuable depth. Now, with the eligibility issues settled, Ohio State hopes to see more impactful performances from the seasoned veteran as they push deeper into the season.