Honestly, it feels like forever since we last saw Colter Shaw driving that big RV across some scenic, backwoods landscape. If you've been refreshing your DVR or checking the CBS schedule every Sunday night lately, you're probably pretty annoyed. The midseason finale left things on such a brutal cliffhanger that "waiting patiently" isn't really an option for most fans.
But here is the reality: Colter is currently on ice.
The question of when does the next episode of tracker come out has a very specific, and somewhat frustrating, answer. CBS decided to put the show on an extended hiatus following the Season 3 midseason finale, which aired back on December 14, 2025. We are currently in the middle of an 11-week gap.
The Official Return Date and the Big Shakeup
Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 1, 2026. That is when Season 3, Episode 10 will finally hit the airwaves.
But there is a catch. You can't just tune in at your usual time.
CBS is playing musical chairs with its Sunday night lineup. For the first half of the season, we were used to seeing Tracker at 8:00 PM ET. Starting March 1, the show is moving to a new timeslot: 9:00 PM ET / 8:00 PM CT.
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Why the move? It's basically corporate strategy. CBS is sliding the new Yellowstone spinoff, Y: Marshals, into that prime 8:00 PM slot. They are banking on the fact that Tracker fans are loyal enough to stay up an hour later to see if Colter actually survives his latest mess. Following Tracker at 10:00 PM will be Watson, which is also part of this massive Sunday night shuffle.
Where We Left Off: The "Good Trouble" Cliffhanger
If you need a refresher, the midseason finale, titled "Good Trouble," was a total wreck—in the best way possible. Colter was helping his old friend Keaton (played by Brett Sexton) look for a former partner. By the time the credits rolled, they were caught in the crosshairs of a professional killer named Emile Lang.
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Showrunner Elwood Reid hasn't been shy about teasing what’s next. He recently told Parade that when Episode 10 opens, Colter is in "really bad shape." We’re talking a dire, immediate survival situation where the big question isn't just "how do we catch the bad guy?" but "is Keaton even alive?"
What to Expect in the Rest of Season 3
Once we get past the initial rescue on March 1, the back half of the season looks pretty packed. We have 13 episodes left to go in this 22-episode order. Here is what we actually know is coming down the pipe:
- A New Mystery Man: Episode 11 is set to introduce a brand-new character. Apparently, this person shows up under the guise of bringing Reenie some legal work, but they’ve got a much larger, and probably more dangerous, agenda.
- The Family Conspiracy: The threads involving Colter’s late father, Ashton Shaw, aren't going away. Reid mentioned that Colter will start pulling on strings that lead him back to "government forces" that were allied against his family.
- Guest Star Questions: Everyone wants to know if Jensen Ackles (Russell) or Melissa Roxburgh (Dory) are coming back. As of right now, there is no "locked" date for them. It’s a scheduling nightmare since Ackles is busy with The Boys universe. However, the writers have left the door wide open for them to pop in toward the end of the season.
How to Watch
If you miss the live broadcast on March 1 because you forgot about the time change, don't panic. You can still catch it on Paramount+.
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If you have Paramount+ with Showtime, you can actually stream it live while it airs on CBS. If you're on the "Essential" plan, you'll have to wait until the next morning—usually around 3:00 AM ET on Monday—to see the episode.
Actionable Steps for Fans
Since we still have a few weeks to kill before March, here is how you can stay ahead of the curve:
- Adjust your DVR now: If your recording software is set to a "static" time rather than "new episodes," it might miss the March 1 return because of the move to 9:00 PM.
- Binge the "Family" episodes: If you want to piece together the Ashton Shaw mystery before the new episodes start dropping hints, re-watch Season 2, Episode 20 ("Echo Ridge") and Season 3, Episode 1 ("The Process"). They contain the biggest clues about Colter's mom and what really happened on that cliff.
- Check for "NFL Creep": Since the show is still on Sundays, remember that late-afternoon football games can still push the whole schedule back. Always check the CBS social media accounts on Sunday afternoons to see if the start time has been bumped by 15 or 30 minutes.
The wait is long, but with a 22-episode season, the momentum is going to pick up fast once we hit March.