Actually Bama isn't closer to home. Pensacola to BR = 253 miles Pensacola to Tusky = 282 miles He could damn near be all the way to Lafayette where his brother is by the time he made to to Tuscaloosa.
Mileage is the same, but the drive from Mobile to BR is much better/faster than the Mobile to Tuscaloosa drive. All interstate from Mobile to BR.
Mobile to Tuscaloosa is animal of a drive though. Mobile to BR is all interstate. None of that may matter, but distance shouldn't be the factor if he's deciding between LSU and GumpU. FWIW, Gainseville is even further.