UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State coach Joe Paterno has been in pain all season.

He hopes to take care of that problem very soon.

Paterno, who turns 82 Dec. 21, said after the Nittany Lions' 34-7 victory yesterday against Indiana that he likely will have replacement surgery on his right hip a week from today.

"I'm probably going to have to get something done with this thing as soon as the Michigan State game is over [Saturday], the next day probably," he said. "I'm probably going to get a hip replacement or something like that, I don't know."

Paterno shrugged off a question about whether the game against the Spartans may be the last of his legendary 43-year career.

"No, haven't even thought about it," he said, before hobbling off.

No. 7 Penn State (10-1, 6-1 Big Ten) needs to beat No. 18 Michigan State (9-2, 6-1) to earn at least a share of the Big Ten Conference title and a berth in the Rose Bowl New Year's Day.

If the Nittany Lions punch their ticket to Pasadena, Calif., it raises the question of whether Paterno will be healthy enough to accompany his team on the cross-country trip if he does have hip-replacement surgery.

"Barring any complications, I think he should be in good shape, but you never know for sure," said Guido D'Elia, Penn State's director of communications and branding for football, as well as Paterno's confidante.

"From everybody you talk to, they say it's a few days or a few weeks until you're up and around again. They want you up and moving as quickly as possible."

Paterno was injured in practice before the season opener against Coastal Carolina when he attempted an onside kick.

He has been watching practice on a golf cart and has been walking with the aid of a cane. Paterno also has been in the coaches' box the past six games and plans to be there again Saturday against the Spartans.

Center A.Q. Shipley can feel Paterno's pain.

"It's been tough to watch," Shipley said. "Obviously, you don't want to see him in the type of pain he's been in. He's our coach. He's our leader. You obviously want to see him better. He needs to get better. I think he's going to feel a lot better once he gets that surgery done."

Paterno's contract runs out after this season. School president Graham Spanier and athletic director Tim Curley have tabled talks about Paterno's future until after the bowl game.

Paterno is the winningest coach in Division I-A history with 382 victories.