CBS's television landscape has seen a significant shift in its 2025-2026 season, with the popular missing persons procedural "Tracker," starring Justin Hartley, being dethroned from its position as the network's top series. "Tracker" had been a major hit since its 2023-2024 premiere, even surpassing "Fire Country." However, it now faces stiff competition from the highly anticipated new procedural, "Marshals," which has quickly risen to become the network's most popular show.

Luke Grimes's "Marshals" premiered to massive success, averaging an impressive 26.4 million viewers across CBS and Paramount+ in Live+28-day ratings, according to Nielsen. The series is also performing exceptionally well on streaming platforms, identified by FlixPatrol as the top show on Paramount+ and Amazon's channels. In contrast, "Tracker" is currently drawing around 16.4 million viewers, a respectable number, but one that has been significantly outpaced by the new frontrunner.

The success of "Marshals" is largely attributed to its unique position as the first post-"Yellowstone" spin-off, effectively filling the void left by its predecessor's two-year absence. While maintaining a Western appeal, the crime drama introduces a procedural twist. The narrative follows Grimes's character, Kayce Dutton, as he leaves his ranching life to join his former SEAL buddy, Pete Calvin (Logan Marshall Green), who leads an elite team of marshals. Kayce leverages his cowboy and military background to assist the team in navigating Montana's challenging wilderness, where domestic threats are brewing.

Beyond the competition between "Tracker" and "Marshals," the broader Taylor Sheridan universe, creator of "Yellowstone," is explored through a quiz by Collider. This quiz invites fans to discover which of Sheridan's brutal, complicated worlds – "Yellowstone," "Landman," "Tulsa King," or "Mayor of Kingstown" – they belong in. Each world is characterized by themes of power, loyalty, and the cost of survival, where protagonists are often people who do what is necessary and live with the consequences.

The quiz results provide insightful personality profiles linked to Sheridan's shows. For instance, those who align with "Yellowstone" are described as Dutton-esque, fiercely protective of land and legacy, leading with force and absolute loyalty. "Landman" types thrive in high-stakes negotiations, viewing themselves as fixers in the cutthroat West Texas oil country. "Tulsa King" personalities are resilient, adaptable individuals like Dwight Manfredi, building respect and influence in unexpected places. Lastly, those belonging to "Mayor of Kingstown" are akin to Mike McLusky, carrying the weight of a broken system, operating in morally grey areas to maintain peace despite the personal cost.

Other CBS shows continue to perform strongly, reinforcing the network's leading position in scripted programming. Many programs consistently draw over 10 million viewers, with new shows notably contributing to this success. The "FBI" franchise, despite two spin-off cancellations, saw the new "CIA" offshoot deliver 11.7 million viewers, tying with Kathy Bates's "Matlock," now in its second season. "Sheriff Country," a spin-off of "Fire Country," is revitalizing its franchise with 10.7 million viewers, even as its predecessor experiences declining viewership. The hit comedy "Ghosts" also maintains strong viewership, four seasons in, with 10.3 million viewers.

New episodes of "Tracker" and "Marshals" air on Sundays on CBS and are available for streaming on Paramount+.