Michelob Ultra changes Twitter profile pic after Notre Dame fan throws beer on field after controversial call

Michelob Ultra knows you have to make hay when the sun is shining. And the company is taking advantage of some free publicity stemming from Notre Dame‘s misfortune during the fourth quarter of the Orange Bowl against Penn State on Thursday evening.

With 8:42 left in the fourth quarter of the College Football Playoff Semifinals contest, Fighting Irish defender Jack Kiser intercepted Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar, who lobbed up a fade route to Tyler Warren toward the left side of the end zone. Unfortunately for Notre Dame, its glorious moment was short-lived.

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The officials called defensive pass interference on the play, erasing the interception and moving Penn State up to Notre Dame’s 9-yard line. Only two plays later, the Nittany Lions punched in a touchdown to secure a 24-17 lead.

After Penn State kicked in its extra point, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman had a heated exchange with three officials on the sideline. Nonetheless, the call couldn’t be reversed.

The Fighting Irish fanbase in Miami had their team’s back, voicing their displeasure and tossing a bottle of Michelob Ultra on the field following the call. After the photo of the bottle made its rounds on social media, the beer brand had the genus idea of adjusting their profile picture, utilizing the free publicity the moment provided. Check it out below.

#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/4XQeEsWj7x

— Michelob ULTRA (@MichelobULTRA) January 10, 2025

All told, the lone Michelob Ultra bottle might go down in history for Notre Dame. While they allowed a touchdown in the following moments, they mounted a fourth quarter comeback against Penn State in the latter stages of the game, and they’re heading to play for the national title following their three-point victory.

While the Fighting Irish struggled mightily in the first half of Thursday’s game, scoring just three points on a field goal just before halftime, their offense broke out in the second half, starting with a Riley Leonard touchdown to begin the third quarter.

From there, they scored 24 points between the third and fourth quarters, capped by Mitch Jeter’s go-ahead field goal with seven seconds left that held as the game-winner. Looking ahead, Notre Dame’s national championship appearance is the program’s first since 2013 – a blowout loss to Alabama in the same stadium where the Fighting Irish defeated Penn State Thursday night.

It continues a late-season surge in Marcus Freeman’s third season at the helm, getting Notre Dame in striking distance of its 12th national championship. A potential victory would have to be celebrated with some Michelob Ultra, of course.

On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this article.