Quietly, Taylor Sheridan has laid the groundwork for Yellowstone season 6. While the writer/producer have no shortage of successful shows, it's safe to say that his biggest draw remains the Duttons and their multi-generational story. In an ideal world, the flagship would have continued, considering its popularity. A year and a half after Yellowstone ended, the franchise thrives. In 2026, it has two direct sequels — Luke Grimes' Marshals on CBS and Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser's Dutton Ranch on Paramount+.
Both Marshals and Dutton Ranch were hits from the get-go, which made their season 2 renewals easy for their respective platforms. Granted that the projects had to go back and undo the respective happy endings for Kayce and Beth, with the death of Monica and the fire at Dillon ranch, respectively, each had justified the tragic twists, using them as the jumping point for this new era for the both of them. As great as they have been individually, questions about John III's remaining children coming together have been persistent.
Dutton Ranch & Marshals Set Up The Perfect Crossover
Throughout their respective debut years, references to the events in Yellowstone, including the death of John III and the disappearance of Jamie, confronted Kayce and Beth. Still, the siblings have maintained their separation, which is now more prominent after Dutton Ranch relocated to Rio Paloma. Kelly Reilly believes that her character and Rip attended Monica's funeral, but since that happened ahead of the events of Marshals, it wasn't seen on-screen. In any case, both camps are eager to do a crossover at some point.
Luckily for them, the way Marshals season 1 and Dutton Ranch season 1 ended with the perfect set-up for their stories to intertwine. For context, Kayce's son, Tate, was secretly abducted by Tom Weaber, although he has yet to realize that. Meanwhile, Mariano made it clear that he has Carter in the Dutton Ranch finale, setting up Beth and Rip's wrath. John III's kids are going up against far more powerful foes, and they will need all the help that they can get to save their respective sons.
Regardless of the specifics, these plots offer the perfect narrative opening for a crossover, as it's safe to say that either would be rushing to each other's side for support, especially since their family is threatened. They can do a two-part special or choose just one show and storyline to tackle. In any case, this allows the Yellowstone sequels to come together without having to come up with a new tragedy.
Dutton Ranch & Marshals' Crossover Would Have Been A Yellowstone Season 6 Story
The crossover's narrative would have been the perfect Yellowstone season 6 story. At the heart of the franchise has always been family, with the Duttons being its nucleus. Over the years, rifts and complications about what to do with the ranch and other political conflicts seemingly took over its story, but the clan and its members' relationship with each other were still the driving force of its overall direction, and arguably, its best asset. Yellowstone was the best when the Duttons came together to protect their family, and that's exactly what the potential Marshals and Dutton Ranch crossover will be.
What makes this narrative better is that the collective story of Beth and Kayce is not specifically tied to any lingering stories from Yellowstone season 5. It isn't about John III and Jamie's murders, or the family's Montana ranch that has been sold back to Broken Rock, although all of those would be great plots to revisit for the future. For now, however, those are not the focus of this quasi-Yellowstone season 6 arc. Despite that, it's still very much in the vein of what the flagship was, as it goes back to the family aspect of it without having to lose the identities that Dutton Ranch and Marhals developed during their inaugural seasons.
CBS Sets Fall Dates for ‘Marshals,’ ‘Survivor’ and More
CBS has set its fall premiere dates, and as has been the case for the past few seasons, most of the network’s lineup will launch in early October.
Reality staples Survivor and The Amazing Race will debut a bit earlier, as will 60 Minutes. But all of CBS’ scripted series are set to premiere over six days starting Oct. 4. Marshals and Tracker — the two most watched shows on network TV last season, excluding live sports — are up first that night, remaining in the Sunday night spots they occupied last season.
FBI and CIA follow on Oct. 5, with each show moving up an hour (to 8 and 9 p.m. ET/PT) from their spots last season as CBS eliminated its Monday comedy block for 2026-27. True crime show Harlan Coben’s Final Twist follows at 10 p.m.
An all-NCIS lineup remains on Tuesday nights starting Oct. 6, with newcomer NCIS: New York sandwiched between the flagship series and prequel NCIS: Origins. CBS’ two other new fall series, comedy Eternally Yours and drama Cupertino, premiere Oct. 8 along with Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage and Elsbeth. Ghosts and Matlock are set for midseason premieres, but a pair of Ghosts specials will air on Oct. 29 and Dec. 10 tied to Halloween and Christmas. The Friday lineup of Sheriff Country, Fire Country and Boston Blue debuts Oct. 9.
CBS’ fall premiere dates are below. All times are ET/PT unless noted, and new shows are marked with an asterisk.
Sunday, Sept. 13
7:30 p.m.: 60 Minutes (approximate; follows NFL doubleheader)
Wednesday, Sept. 23
8 p.m.: Survivor
Wednesday, Sept. 30
9:30 p.m.: The Amazing Race
Sunday, Oct. 4
8:30 p.m.: Marshals (approximate; follows NFL doubleheader and 60 Minutes)
9:30 p.m.: Tracker
Monday, Oct. 5
8 p.m.: FBI
9 p.m.: CIA
10 p.m.: Harlan Coben’s Final Twist
Tuesday, Oct. 6
8 p.m.: NCIS
9 p.m.: NCIS: New York*
10 p.m.: NCIS: Origins
Thursday, Oct. 8
8 p.m.: Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage
8:30 p.m.: Eternally Yours*
9 p.m.: Elsbeth
10 p.m.: Cupertino*
Friday, Oct. 9
8 p.m.: Sheriff Country
9 p.m.: Fire Country
10 p.m.: Boston Blue
Saturday, Oct. 10
10 p.m.: 48 Hours
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