Alabama TE O.J. Howard lobbed an embarrassing accusation Auburn’s way on Wednesday, claiming the Tigers asked the Crimson Tide players to “take it easy.”

On Thursday, Auburn safety Tray Matthews wasn’t buying it.

“I read it yesterday, but I don’t really know where that came from,” Matthews told Auburn Undercover’s Ryan Black after a Sugar Bowl practice. “That’s a rumor, of course. We would never say anything like that.”

Matthews made 6 total tackles and had a pass breakup in Auburn’s 30-12 loss to Alabama.

Knowing this rivalry, the war of words over Howard’s comments is unlikely to be over any time soon.