Is 3 days a week enough for a complete novice?

I'm looking at these beginner plans and most of them only have you in the gym three days a week. Coming from a football background where we trained daily, this feels like I might be slacking off. Can you really see significant hypertrophy and strength gains with that much time off, or should I be looking for a 5-day split instead?

As a beginner, 3 days is actually optimal because your central nervous system needs to adapt to the new stress. You grow while you're resting, not while you're lifting!

Exactly. If you go 5 or 6 days right away, you'll likely burn out or get injured within a month. Stick to the 3 days and focus on intensity.

I've been doing 3 days for six months now and I've doubled my deadlift. It definitely works if you follow the program.

The best plan is the one you can actually stick to for a year. 3 days is very sustainable for a busy schedule.