The South is just different.  In a very good way.  It is a region of football fanaticism, college and pro.  They know the game, they know the history, the fans co-exist well and they have Waffle House to boot.  Heading to VA next week for my kid's secondary degree commmencement after which she will stay in the South as she loves the history and the culture vs the West Coast.  I can see why folks choose to retire down there.  And did I mention that they have Waffle House?

In the Pac-12...8 of the 12 schools are in or near major cities...LA, SF, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Denver, Phoenix...some with 2 schools in the same city(LA and SF) plus other colleges, as well as multiple professional sports teams, the ocean, beach, mountains(skiing), etc...in other words, lots of entertainment options and far more than the majority of Big Ten and SEC schools. Oregon, osu, WSU and Arizona are really the only "college towns." That matters on the passion scale.

Otherwise I have had short term living / working stints in North Carolina and Virginia...

Loved the US history throughout the region; being called "Sir" by anyone and everyone (compared to "hey dude" on the west coast😂); "southern hospitality;" slower pace of life; authencity of people and friendships...

Disliked the weather; fried foods are not my thing and everything is fried in the South; a little too religious for me; being categorized as a "Yankee;" the enthusiasm for NASCAR(can make a uw husky fan seem cool by comparison) as cars driving in circles is not interesting to me...